Reference Books

This book is all about the fundamentals that a writer needs. He spends the entire first chapter just talking about the necessary qualities any writer must spend a lifetime to develop. It was a good wakeup call for me.

If you're a serious writer, it's a good idea to learn the business of getting published.

This book takes you from the basics to the insiders-know-hows. Plus, you're being instructed by a great author (have you checked out his highly recommended book, Scene and Structure) Jack M. Bickham.

I have probably read over 50 books on writing fiction, plot, character development and what not. And I have finally stopped looking. Don't get me wrong, this is not the "All" book for writing fiction, but it addresses just enough information to get you on your way in writing good fiction and believable characters. I already have Bickham's book on "Scenes and Sequels" which is a must, but if you don't have it yet, this book does a nice job in giving you the "meat" so to speak. His section on viewpoint, which some may disagree, gives you his interesting logic about what viewpoint to use. Some may argue, that his advice and style might be too formulaic, but just suck it in, because there is something to be learned. Use the advice that feels right to you. This was the first book that introduced me to "Transactional Analysis" when considering my characters' actions/ motivations. Get this book, you won't be sorry. I bought his other book on "Settings" however, and this book gives you a good enough review, so you don't need to purchase it.

However, Bickham does have another book on How to Write a Short Story. I have it and I recommend it Highly. It does overlap alot with this book, but it is formatted in a way that it maps out step by step on what you need to do and consider when writing a short story or novel from scratch. It uses the system of index cards which I like. However, if that doesnt seem to your liking, just consider it. I did and i am well on my way to finishing my first novel. The overlap in both books are not duplicate materials, just that each book has a somewhat different approach to presenting the information.

If you want a book with mapping instructions to write a short story or novel, then get his "How to Write a Short Story" book instead. If you are comfortable with the Preplotting stage of writing, then get this book instead. If you are looking for advanced Scene & Sequel techniques, then get other book on that topic too. All in all, these are great beginner's to intermediate level writing books!!! Highly recommend.

For all of you budding writers out there, who just can't seem to pull it all together, you've just found your new bible. In this instructional guide Bickham successfully interweaves elements of plot formation, character development and scene structuring, effectively creating perhaps the most comprehensive `Writing Fiction' manual available on today's market. Read it, enjoy it and I wish you the best of luck in your writing.

Want to study the art of rich character development, look no further. Fundamentals, techniques and fine tuning; it's all in there.

I haven't begun using this book yet, but in flipping through, I can see that it will give me a foothold into writing about my life. In fact, there are so many ideas, it's overwhelming. I just flipped through it again, and I'm not sure they are clear on how to put it all together, even though they the last chapter addresses that.

Teacher and writer Mary Borg has done a great service to anyone who wants to write about their life. Neatly condensed into a simple, easy to maneuver `work book'; this "Guide To Writing an Autobiography" is a real find. I've always `thought' about writing about my own experiences, but never had a good way to put my thoughts down on paper. This guide covers everything you will need to write about your life experiences. Besides the basics of giving great practical tips, there are questions, simple advice and reading suggestions to help you remember and consolidate your memories. There are also reading references for topics including family, ancestors, team lines, romance, love, family life, like and dislikes, turning points and the list goes on. In fewer than 160 pages, the author has managed to cover just about any category of life experiences that one could imagine (or live). It also includes a great section on how to actually put it all together and get your book made. It is truly an encouraging and well organized guide and a must read for anyone who even entertains the idea of writing about ones experiences.

I've jump-started many a Senior Citizen into telling the stories of their lives by turning them on to Mary Borg's WRITING YOUR LIFE. That's been a pleasant & encouraging surprise. It's exactly as the subtitle says "easy-to-follow." It's also light on the lecturing & language, & the spiral bound edition let's you lay it out flat as you work on those memories.

I am an older adult educator. This is an excellent tool for teaching my students to write their life experiences.

Lucid and inclusive, Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography, help me to navigate my way through most difficult moments to recall. To get the right answers one must ask the right questions, and that is what this book is all about. Everyone no matter how insignificant should write an autobiography because that is the way to be remembered without being president or a movie star or whatever makes someone to be famous. You may not be a professional writer, but so what? Give it a try, do it for your amusement. You may find it more of a learning experience than a simple writing. Love the book and enjoyed at the same time.

After reading Marais' witty take on Californians, I have to agree with almost every single word. Indeed, after having spent some time in the golden state myself, I couldn't help but laugh at the quirks and habits that Marais pokes fun of throughout his book. Thanks to this guide I now know what I am getting into if ever I decide to move there someday.

So, I asked a sort of pen pal of mine who lives in Scotland what people there think of my country and she recommended I check out Xenophobe's. There happened to be one more specific based on geography though so I bought this one instead. Now my friend told me that, more or less, the US is far below her and her cohorts favorite country ... big surprise. That should have set the mood for what to expect when I got to finally read this book, however, I was expecting something a bit detailed and factual, perhaps even a few hundred pages thicker. My expectations set the stage for the disappointment I got after I read Xenophobe's.

Yes, it is written by a native californian who has traveled more extensively within this state than I have. No, he does not speak very highly of my/our homeland. Yes, it is what I should have expected to read after getting the recommendation from a girl who thinks along the same lines as the author of Xenophobe's - that is to say that Californians are, in fact, the stereotype that everybody thinks we are. In that respect the book succeeds.

Perhaps it is just me but throughout this book the author seemed to be focusing either far more than would be prudent on Los Angeles or succumbing to the average stereo-typical perception of what Californians are like. Almost during the entire course of reading it felt like he was writing about a land completely foreign to the one I know. To make it worst, there were constant contradictions. If that wasn't bad enough he used words like all, most, and entirely far to frequently, and, without giving near enough reasons for the readers to want to believe him.

A good book if you want to read what outsiders think of California.

A moderately okay book if you would like to read about the dramatized and overly publicized California.

A terrible book if you would like to read about what California is like for those Californians who aren't drug induced idiots, gang bangers, movie moguls and their disciples, or who just don't live in Los Angeles.

If this is what all of the Xenophobe books are like then I don't see much benefit in reading them. Good day sir!

This 60+ page guide to the Californians is a delight! A unique combination of witty, tongue-in-cheek comments and factual information about California culture, history and geography makes for a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend it to natives and foreigners alike!

I am a Californian, and I loved this little book that is filled with fact and wit that had me laughing out loud. The character differences between the Northern and Southern Californians were hilarious. All of the stereotypes of the golden state were well illustrated. This is a great gift for every Californian, those who visit California, or anyone who would just like a few laughs.

Wow!! California has been analyzed and humorized in this delightful book that will keep you laughing from beginning to end. Mr. Marais doesn't miss a beat as he rattles off one quip after another about this culture of characters that even Hollywood couldn't dream up! From pampered pooches to personal growth weekends, from smog alerts to freeway traffic jams, California has set itself up for this author's hilarious take on the "sunshine state". Enjoy!!

I was curious what one would do to survive six months if the normal system broke down and contact with people and stores was not possible. This book helped in this research. However I consulted many sources and none answered some questions.

I loved the wood cookstove on page 37. I immediately wanted one

This book, even though geared for Y2K type expected disaster, still has many useful tips for emergency preparedness. I found the food prep and storage section particularly useful. Also it had an excellent section on waste disposal which is often overlooked in other emergency preparedness books. Small and portable enough to take with you.

The Y2K Survival Guide and Cookbook (Ecovillage, TN) by Dorothy R. and Albert K. Bates is not your usual recipe collection. With the savvy of environmentalists ad the frenzy of those expecting emergency, Dorothy and Albert Bates cover every area of survival and food preparation. Expecting the worst case scenario - rolling brownouts and total black outs, failed utility systems and water purification problems - this book provides natural alternatives: food storage, chlorine bleach to purify water, using wood stoves, building your own composting toilet, and gardening. There are even first aid and Morse code directions in the final pages. After coping with any Y2K calamities, it's time to cook. In between survival guidelines, the Bates' book is filled with hearty recipes reminiscent of campfire food. As computers buzz blank, you can enjoy split pea soup from melted icicles, marmalades from sun-dried fruit, or shiitake joes from home-grown mushrooms. Even though The Y2K Survival Guide and Cookbook is intended for the millennium-minded cook, it is an eccentric volume any eco-conscious chef should add to their library.

In addition to the recipes and food tips that could keep a diverse group of survivors happy for years (who wants plain ol' Chili gets that, and who prefers dishes like Rice Noodle Pad Thai will be satisfied also), there is an excellent overview of food storage techniques that includes charts I've never before seen on the shelf life of edibles, from an individually wrapped apple to nuts in airtight packages.

While Dorothy and Albert have given us lists, lists, and more lists to follow and yet others to create lists of our own, throughout their little treasure of a book is a taste of the loving, compassionate sensibility without which any attempt to survive is bound to be futile.

I coach a high school softball team. Needless to say highschool girls are not always the easiest to work with; they get distracted quite easily and emotions and self-image fluctuate often. After a disappointing season last year, I decided something had to change. I came across Ten Minute Toughness and couldn't put it down. This was the edge my girls had been lacking. The first week of practice this past season we didn't touch a glove or bat. We learned Jason Selk's Mental Workout. Some of the girls enjoyed it more than others, but overall everyone made adjustments and improved. Practices were more efficient and girls more focused and confident. Than you Jason for less stressful, more enjoyable, and more successful seasons to come!

As a graduate student in the field of Sport Psychology, I come across a lot of books that talk about concepts and give examples of techniques. However, 10 MT is the first one that has been able to lay out a specific plan to be used daily to make athletes stronger in their mental game. As an added bonus, after reading 10 MT, I was able to apply the phases of Jason's plan to my own life as a student, coach, and employee.

A friend recommended 10 Minute Toughness to help give me a mental edge while running. I had always wanted to run in marathons, but my breathing hindered me from running long distances. The centering breath and mental workout have really helped me mentally and physically. The plan is easy to follow, and it has now become second nature to me. I can run twice as far as I could a year ago. I am not a coach, but I highy suggest this book for coaches of all ages.

I like this book very much. it provides me motivation on how athletes stay focused seeking their goals. I will reference this book quite often in the future. Thanks!

I have applied these principles of the mental toughness to loose weight and work out at my peak performance. The biggest problem for me has been weight loss, but this mental work-out is empowering and life changing. It will work in many aspects of life to lead to higher success and a happier outlook to problems. I highly reccomend to those that struggle with a weight problem.

I just got mine and to be fair, Im really dissapointed. It supposed to hold the psp but it just need to turn to get the psp out. It also look fancy but Im not sure if it'll protect for real

This book is filled with all the shower games you can think of! Plus one for after the baby is here...never knew there were games for that!!
Good for a quick reference too if you cant remember a game youve played before! Lots & Lots of activities for all your baby shower needs. GET IT!

This book was an excellent resource!!! There are so many great ideas that I had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few for my friends shower. I highly recommend this book to anyone giving a shower.

I am not the type who needs organizational help when planning a party, so this was great for just getting to the games. There are so many, no matter what type of baby shower you're throwing, you'll be sure to find what you're looking for.

100+ Baby Shower Games is a collection of fun and simple games especially for commemorating a special delivery in the life of a family member or friend! Ideal for baby showers, a great antidote to baby blues, and sure to liven up parties and gatherings, 100+ Baby Shower Games offers suggestions for both before and after a baby's birth, to cheer up moms who may be close at hand or out-of-town. Sample game suggestions include guessing how many safety pins are tucked inside a baby food jar, an active balloon game in which everyone ties a balloon around his or her ankle and tries to stomp other people's balloons while protecting their own, asking guests to fill an empty wine bottle with messages for the baby's 16th birthday (then give the creation to the baby when he or she turns 16), and more. A family-friendly springboard of wonderful ways to celebrate the start of a new life.

I consult with a lot of small business owners and read this to improve my ability to give them broad guidance on the things they s/b thinking about prior to selling their business. Then I realized it made more sense to give them a copy of the book so I bought a bunch of them and have been handing them out since. My clients have all found the book to be of great value.

I highly recommend this book for any forward-thinking business owner who wants to optimize his/her results in the selling process. In working with thousands of successful entrepreneurs, I can't imagine any of them embarking on such an important event without taking the time to self-educate with this book's practical insights. Dini's and Zubillaga's expertise on the subject is presented in a quick-read, useful manner that is worth every penny.

Carlos and I didn't realize until after we were listed on Amazon how SHORT 31 pages of content looks compared to other books. In truth, we struggled for a long time rewriting the book to be shorter. We work with business owners, and understand that they typically don't want to wade through a lot of fluff to get to the point. I'm glad to see that some of our readers realize that you can say a lot if you pick your words carefully.

This short book is packed with practical, useful advice. The insights come from 2 gentlemen who have not only been there and done that, but they've written the book and share what you must do to successfully sell your business. They've managed to condense a weighty subject into just the essentials you need to know.

Even after reading it, I don't know how the authors provided such a comprehensive tutorial so concisely. This one will surprise you. It goes beyond the basics of valuing your business, seeking buyers, and negotiating, to include really sound advice on some of the less obvious strategies involved in a successful sale.

Well please, I got just what they said. The book is well written, easy to apply-thanks.

The book, "Twelve Essential Skills for Great Preaching" is an excellent book for student ministers, lay persons and even seasoned ministers. We can all learn some valuable tips and "essential skills" on how to improve our preaching and by so doing remove boredom from our congregations and encourage and motivate all audiences in strengthening their faith in the Gospel of jesus Christ. This book will assist us to enliven our messages and communicate far better with our community of believers.

With a desire to provide a "skills development approach" for training in the art and science of preaching, Dr. Wayne McDill pens a volume that aims to "identify and strengthen the specific skills needed for more effective sermon preparation" (ix). McDill serves as professor of preaching at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has over forty years of experience as a pastor, denominational leader,
and a teacher of homiletics and is the author of numerous books, including Evangelism in a Tangled World, Becoming Who You Are, Making Friends for Christ, and The Message.

McDill contends that there are twelve essential skills to help preachers provide more and better content in their sermons. While he observes that God calls and His preachers, we have the responsibility to develop these specific skills through "discipline, hard work, and a commitment to clear thinking and Bible-based sermons" (15). He notes that:

This book is designed with a self-improvement format, a do-it-yourself approach which will let you concentrate on your own skills, at your own pace, and in the areas you see need to be strengthened (7).

Summary

McDill presents the first skill for great preaching in that the preacher must "get the text in view" by way of observation (17). With this skill, he desires to "recogniz[e] and not[e] details in the wording of the text and their significance for its meaning" through the means of structural diagramming via inductive Bible study (43). The second skill is "seeing what is there [through] recognizing and noting details in the wording of the text and their significance in the meaning (42).

The next skill is in "asking the right questions ... for the best research to interpret the writer's meaning" -- also known as hermeneutics (59, 61). The challenge here lies in trying to know what someone's intentions are when they are so far removed by historical, literary, and theological distance (63-64). One these questions are answered, the preacher moves to the next step which is "naming the textual idea" (80). Here, the preacher discovers "the writer's idea in the text and designat[es] it with precise terminology" (83). Once accomplished, the next step is to touch human needs by "tracing from theological concepts in the text to corresponding needs in contemporary hearers" (102).

After this step is executed in the interpretation stages, the time comes to bridge from text to sermon (121) followed by the writing of the sermon divisions which "clearly state the teachings of the text on its subject" (139). Next is the step of planning the sermon design which determines "the arrangement of sermon materials for the most effective communication" (159) followed by the development of sermon ideas which will aid in the "understanding, acceptance, and response of the hearer" (182). The next step in this area of understanding and acceptance is in "exploring natural analogies ... for illustrating sermon ideas" for, as McDill notes, "a concept does not impact our thinking unless we can see it" (203). Along this line of thinking, the next skill deals with "drawing pictures, telling stories" in an imaginative and creative way to bring biblical and contemporary stories to life in the mind of the listener (223).

Finally, the culminates all the steps thus far into this final step which aims to "[conform] every aspect of sermon design to the aim of a faith response in the hearer" (244) for it is the "only appropriate response to God and His Word" (258).

Critical Evaluation

As stated earlier, McDill's purpose in writing this book consists of "identify[ing] and strengthen[ing] the specific skills needed for more effective sermon preparation" (ix). By focusing on the content of the sermon, he succeeds for the most part in making a user-friendly volume that deserves a place on every pastor's bookshelf.

What immediately strikes the reader's cursory glance of this work is the layout. McDill deserves praise for achieving his goal of presenting a "self-improvement format [and] a do-it-yourself approach" (7). Each chapter contains a sentence that clearly and succinctly tells the "skill [McDill hopes] to develop with this exercise" (83). Each chapter also contains easily identifiable headings and subheadings, a box or boxes containing key definitions, guidelines for each exercise, a chapter summary, study questions, and examples of how to implement each exercise. He helps the preacher in his studies who is pressed for time. McDill's layout allows the preacher a quick reference guide as needed.

Another appealing aspect of this work is its practical nature. This is not a theoretical book on homiletical philosophy but a basic `how-to' manual for preachers to work their own pace (11). He notes that "just because you think you understand something doesn't mean you can do it. Practice is the only way to master a skill, even in sermon preparation" (4). McDill takes the preacher step-by-step through each of the skills he presents. As mentioned just previously, each chapter contains a segment guiding the reader through an exercise for each skill (32, 52, 73, 90, 114, 131, 146, 171, 193, 215, 235, 257). In these segments, the author certainly practices what he preaches in that not only does he tell the reader what each skill entails, he also helps the reader apply it step-by-step from the ground up . This portion is so helpful for the young preacher finding himself overwhelmed with the thought of sermon preparation. McDill figuratively takes the young preacher by the hand and guides him carefully through each process.

A highly commended chapter ib this work is Chapter Ten, "Exploring Natural Analogies" (201). A `natural analogy' takes a "relationship, circumstance, event, or other factor" in the natural realm and parallels it with a theological concept (207). McDill notes that an "incarnational (in human form) principle must guide us today as se seek, through preaching, to be channels of God's ongoing revelation" (203-204). He rightly notes that we must "look for analogies that will help your hearer understand the idea" (211) and are grounded in our respective "arenas of life" (216). This skill is vital in connecting with our contemporary audiences and is the same style of preaching that Jesus often used with the common people with His use of parables, which took a common situation, event, or person's position and used it to instill a heavenly truth.

Two weaknesses are found in this work. The most noticeable is the title. This reviewer finds the title a bit presumptuous, as if acquiring and applying these twelve skills will automatically make one's preaching `great.' For McDill, great content equals great preaching and clearly his focus is on fleshing out the content of the Scriptures in "the skills necessary to sermon preparation" (10). The title implies this would be a more comprehensive approach to sermon preparation and delivery in the whole realm of preaching. Instead, he minimizes the effect of delivery in favor of content alone.

The delivery style is not the critical factor in what we recognize as great preaching. Great delivery without effective content is often only "sound and fury, signifying nothing." On the other hand, striking content is of real interest to the hearer, even if the delivery is weak. (10).

Yet again, the title of the book implies preaching and delivery is part of the preaching process. Plus, the Scriptural accounts of the preachers and prophets indicate that the content and the way they communicated that content was part of the message. The Apostle Paul notes that:

My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, ESV).

The point here that Paul makes is that content alone does not a message make, but it is how the message crafts the speaker's heart and thus persuades passionately through the Spirit. McDill seems to miss this point completely. A better title would be "The 12 Essential Skills for Great Sermon Preparation."

Conclusion

After reading this work in its entirety, I would highly recommend this work to someone looking for a manual on sermon preparation. Even though the title is misleading, once the preacher enters into the contents of the book and sees the helpful way McDill fleshes out these various skills, he will be thankful for having such a wonderful volume in his hands.

I would recommend using this volume as a tune-up to specific areas of your preaching preparation that need work rather than trying to work from the beginning to the end of this book, for that would take a large amount of time. Absorbing this book little-by-little, however, will certainly transform your sermon preparation and your congregation will thank you all the more for this transformation.

I must admit as a recent Bible college graduate I was intimidated by the task of expository preaching. However, as I finished each chapter I thought to myself, "I can do that." Soon I was through the entire book confident I could preach an effective expository sermon on any passage of Scripture.
McDill takes you through from text to sermon and everything in between showing exactly how to do everything. I readily admit that my preaching has changed since reading this book. It has added depth and meaning and my sermons are not just an exegetical speech but messages that connects with the hearts and spirits of the congregation.
This book is a must-read for the expository preacher!

McDill has captured the essence of expository Preaching. No other preaching method I have studied is as God honoring and powerful. It teaches you how to preach God's Word and not your own or anyone elses. At the same time it helps you to use your own life experiences to illustrate the points you pull directly out of God's Word. It takes the best of Inductive study methods and couples them with the art of expository preaching.

AS A PROFESSIONAL IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES FIELD, I FOUND THE BOOK AN INVALUABLE GUIDE FOR THE CLIENTS THAT I SERVE. THE BOOK IS ALSO A RESOURCEFUL AND INFORMATIVE TOOL WHICH WILL ENHANCE MY SKILLS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR PEOPLE IN OUT OF THE FIELD BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A HELPING HAND FOR PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING.

As a professional with over 35 years experience in the fields of corrections and substance abuse, I didn't realize how limited my knowledge of the various aspects of 12-step programs was until I read this book . I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity and the curiosity to read this book and highly recommend that it be read by anyone in the field! I feel that Ms. Anderson had three goals in mind--information, enlightenment, and resourcefulness.

I appreciate the book, 12-Step Programs: A Resource Guide for Helping Professionals. I have worked in the field of addictions for over 5 years and found that this book has a variety of self help programs that fit the needs of anyone seeking freedom from any addiction! It is a great reference guide for any professional who seeks to enhance and further their knowledge on the 12-step programs.

Ms. Anderson has done all of us a tremendous service by compiling and explaining all the existing 12-step programs. This is a guide that should be available to social service agencies, counselors, or anyone who works with people who are addicted and who needs to refer them for help and supportive recovery. And, finally, this is a work of love for Ms. Anderson, who has regained hope in her own recovery and in helping others to recover. She is an inspiration when she speaks, and she continues to inspire us with this comprehensive guide.

12-Step Programs was really helpful to me in evaluating myself as well as friends and families. I know some people that have problems that are in this book and think it would be very helpful. Some people feel embarrassed to talk with someone or have no idea how to get help for there addictions. This book changes all of that!

I can not believe that nearly ten years has gone by since this book was first published. I thought that everyone had read this book, and more importantly was "using" this book. It took a room full of educators and parents indicating that no one knew of this book for me to write this review. It is less a review than a sales pitch, but it is a pitch that needs to be made.

From personal experience as both parent and teacher, this book changed my outlook on both. I have experienced considerable success at both, and it has to do with a fundamental switch in thinking. In fact, once you read this book, and get the point, you will see how simple it really is to help students become capable. But, everyone has to have their oars in the water and be working in the same direction.

Just yesterday, I heard from one my students that he and his partner won Bronze at the Canada Wide Science Fair. This is the third time we won Bronze, and incidentally we scored Silver a few years ago. This book helped me "coach" kids. I had little to do with the science, but I believe that I was influential in the primary aspect of this book - pointed out the paradigm of their only capabilities - their success.

I have an email from one of them, and it has squarely hit this point.

Earlier last week, at a wonderful seminar on Assessment by Damian Cooper, I was struck by the way that he also used questioning techniques of the participants, but as well the students in his videos. He uses the materials in this book to a tremendous advantage. I see strong similarities, and attribute his success for working along these paradigms.

Seven Strategies for Developing Capable Students is MOST DEFINITELY A MUST READ by any parent and/or teacher. It is a wealth of information, tips, and tricks, but more importantly allows any parent or teacher to focus on the student - making them capable, and feeling this as well.

Let me quote a passage which I see as prophetic as it is more of a problem today, than it was ten years ago.

"Parents often FEEL they must run to school to CONFRONT the teacher or principal with the responsibility of solving children's problems. This may be called for at times, but such occasions SHOULD BE RARE, and should only take place after we have done all we can to EMPOWER OUR CHILDREN TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS."

The capital letters are my own, and should point to the emphasis for which I see as integral to proper parenting. SADLY, there has been an apparent increase in this type of CONFRONTATION. It is wrongheaded, and is actually bad for the student. While it might make the parent feel good, and this is also problematic, makes the child see a FICTION for which they must bring to the REALITY of life. It arms them with the inappropriate tools of success. When the school unions need to add language to their collective agreements that protect them from this type of confrontation, it is clearly a sign that there is a problem - a problem to the process of parenting.

"We do a DISSERVICE to children when WE communicate a perception that everything is SOMEONE else's problem rather than theirs. 'You are doing poorly in school because the teacher doesn't like you'. 'You didn't make the team because the coach is prejudiced.'" p. 53

While it could be rumour or gossip, I have heard that this is said quite often, and am shocked. There are a considerable number of parents who blame a teacher for many different reasons. As a teacher, there is no defense to this type of claim. The logical fallacies riddle the event, but it is nonetheless pointless to argue - a parent's mind is made up at this point.

BUT, I have spent 25 years at teaching, and NOT ONCE HAVE I EVER HEARD ANY TEACHER say anything close to this. I can't imagine any teacher being so very shallow that they would willingly and knowingly do this to a child. In STARK CONTRAST, to help a student who might even be trouble in a classroom, to experience success would be something that would help the student not be a trouble maker. It is in the teacher's BEST INTERESTS not to be like this, and for this reason, I believe that blaming someone is a parental fiction.

I believe that the problem with many students now-a-days is that they come to teachers with the meta-understandings or the paradigms of "shields up", if I can use an old Star Trek phrase, where there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, and they simply need to sort out who to blame.

This book will help anyone see the problem with this thinking, and get them to think towards helping the student develop a capable nature.

"The perceptions of being capable, significant, and able to influence one's own life are powerful confidence builders that instill the courage to take healthy risks, improvise, and transcend failure. PARENTS WHO INVEST TIME HELPING CHILDREN INTERNALIZE THESE PERCEPTIONS ARE GOING A LONG WAY TOWARD ENSURING THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND ENJOY LEARNING".

This book is WELL WORTH the read, and I hope that every parent read this. Form discussion groups, and share your observations and creatively work toward making this happen. It was relevant 10 years ago, and is more relevant today.

Some times faces are not deceptive. The face, they say, is the index of heart; and so is the book in hand. No kidding about this fact.

Was wondering why don't such creative visualization minds write a similar book for adults (i.,e other than children and parents).

Nevertheless, 7 Strategies is a value-added resource for the concerned group. I envy the readers of this book. This book directly works as a guide on the three R's: Responsible, Repectful and Resourceful.

Does your child's notebook explode upon opening? Does your child do homework every night after supper and yet bring home dozens of missing assignment reports from school? Does your child come home with the book but no idea what the assignment is? Or perhaps with the assignment and not the book? Does your child frequently have no idea what the words of an assignment actually mean? Does your child weep over the tedium of homework assignments whose worth they cannot comprehend? Does your child go off to school in the morning moderately happy but come home looking beaten down by life? Are you looking for help for such a child? If so, don't look for the answers in this book. There is not a whisper of how to help the organizationally-impaired student. (P.S., If anybody knows of such a book, or can write such a book, please let the world know.)

For some strange reasons, I am always attracted by books with the magical number `7' (seven) in the titles or sub-titles. Remarkably, they often turn out to be great stuff. Some of these books have already been reviewed here & there are more to come. Partly, my obsession with the number has probably to do with my impressionable exposure since I was a kid.

When I was twelve in the early 60's, my first `blood-thirsty' movie was the Japanese cult classic, The Seven Samurais, which reportedly inspired the Hollywood epic, The Magnificent Seven. Both movies became my perennial favourites & I have seen them countless times. In both movies, a ragtag group of fearless fighters helped a poor village to deal with & outsmart a gang of marauding rogues.

In this book, the magical `7' (seven) takes on a more serious & sober stance. It refers to the critical attributes that are embodied in the seven resources & skills necessary for your kids/teens to become capable - responsible, respectful, & resourceful - in dealing with today's complex world.

Firstly, let me reveal the author's Significant Seven resources & skills of capable students:

- strong perceptions of personal capabilities;
- strong perceptions of personal significance;
- strong perceptions of personal influence;
- strong interpersonal skills;
- strong intrapersonal skills;
- strong systemic skills;
- strong judgment skills;

I have always hold the view that understanding perception is the key to peak performance.

Maxwell Maltz started the ball rolling by coining the term as `psycho-cybernetics', even though ancient masters in the East have known about it for a very long time. Edward de Bono, the guru of lateral thinking, calls it 'First Order Thinking'. Steven Covey relates some insightful anecdotes about perception in his `7 Habits for Highly Effective People.' Joel Arthur Barker, a process futurist/consultant, considers perceptual understanding as one of five strategic tools necessary for navigating your future. Other consultants, like Mark Brown, Philip Kirby, to name a few, have talked at length about the intricacies of perception & their impact on personal as well as business (or organizational) performance. In the field of stress management, the research people at Institute of HeartMath, creator of the cutting-edge Freeze-Framer Technology, have linked `stress' to `perception'. Even in the world of esoteric practices, Harry Palmer, creator of the expensive Avatar training program, thinks along the same lines, as far as reality creation is concerned.

Henceforth, it is exciting for me to note that these two authors have drawn an excellent & compelling parallel in the academic arena.

I fully concur with the authors that, in the case of our children, strong perceptions of one's personal capabilities, personal significance & personal influence are the precursors to building one's strong assets in dealing with a world that is hurtling at us with breakneck speed, & compounded by hurricane-force changes.

Surprisingly, the book, written by two educators by profession, is presented in very clear, easy-to-understand language.

I highly recommend this book to all parents & teachers. This book can help you develop the resources & skills for your children/students to become capable adults.

I would go further to recommend parents & teachers to take a look at the following books, as supplementary reading:

1. What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids, by Peter Benson;
2. What Young Children Need to Succeed: Working Together to Build Assets from Birth to Age 11, by Jolene Roehlkapartain;
3. What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven Ways to Shape Your Own Future, by Peter Benson;

Just when you thought you knew everything about teaching; along comes another book claiming to do it better.

Well, this little book packs a punch so powerful that you might well be forced to re-evaluate your thinking and un-learn some ineffective habits and replace them with some of the recommendations offered by H. Stephen Glenn and Michael L. Brock.

Even if you have been teaching for some time, these ideas are fresh and simple enough to begin applying during your next lesson.

Even though the advice is geared towards the parent, it can and should be thoroughly studied by teachers of all levels from Primary to University. An awareness of the comparative stages of mental ability and emotional development will enable the teacher to identify and adapt the appropriate approach needed.

The book is not long on theory, it cuts straight to the heart of the matters discussed with practical and concrete recommendations.

For example, a anxious and impatient parent at a Parent-Teacher Orientation meeting, wanting to know the single most effective thing they can do to promote their child's lifelong success in education, is promptly told:

"Sit down to dinner with the television off every evening for 30-45 minutes".

So, at least for me, its "Back to the Drawing Board"; time to clean the mental attic again on the road to becoming a better teacher.

Thank you, H. Stephen Glenn and Michael L. Brock for sharing your ideas.