Business Books

A life changing and life enhancing book. Speaks to the deeper considerations for what our right livelihood is, how it affects others, and how to discover it. I just bought it as a gift to a thoughtful young man considering what to do with his work life - now that he just finished his first job.

One of the best books I've read that describes the nature of work and the human condition. Whyte captures so beautifully the emotions I feel as an independent consultant who spent time inside some large organizations. These days I feel that need to be "part of something", and just as strongly feel the need to use my own voice and find my own way should I go back inside an organization. Whyte describes this tension of wanting to be a part and wanting to express who you are inside an organzation brilliantly. I can't imagine anyone who hasn't struggled with these fundamental questions. It was affirming to know that my conflicts with those desires are not unusual.

Each of us will likely reach a point in our professional lives when we ask ourselves what is the value of what we're doing. Some may ignore the impulse and go on with their routines with little adverse effect, while others may feel they are on the edge of a precipice with no path marked toward fulfillment. Author David Whyte, who is both a professional poet and a Fortune 500 consultant, certainly has the experience to write a book about self-discovery, and his most pervasive theme is one of pilgrimage toward our real selves. What makes Whyte's book essential reading is how he is able to translate this journey to our working lives. For many, work is a means to ward off fears of poverty, but the author illustrates how work at its best can be joyful, a "hidden trove of imaginative treasure that we hope can give us self-respect, independence and the ease we desire". At the same time, the harsh reality is that most companies deprive us of time and spaciousness and cause us to lose our creative spark, even ourselves.

Using his life as a guiding post for the reader, the author reveals many of the questions, crises, and turning points in his own search for meaningful work suited to his nature. He candidly discusses the life-changing encounters in his life, as well as the family memories and formative experiences that shaped his own psyche. More specifically, Whyte discusses his stint as a naturalist in the Galapagos Islands and the key role his ancestors have played in shaping the structure and form of his creative work. This emphasis he places upon our inheritance from those who have gone before us is probably the most inspiring message he conveys here. He cites his inspirations from William Blake's paintings, Rainer Maria Rilke's poems, and from the way poet John Keats lived his brief life. Keats believed that truly great people have the ability to accept that not everything can be resolved, that they can thrive in uncertainty. Such dependence on what Keats called the "holiness of the heart's affections" is what Whyte feels needs to be valued now.

Keats' concept of negative capability is the crux of Whyte's thesis, that one should follow one's calling and be guided by one's desires and aptitudes in spite of the uncertainty. Choosing or working at a job or career one is not suited to by nature is a mistake many make due to blinding factors like keeping up with the bills or placing emphasis on what others think. Whyte shows why and how to get back in touch with one's nature and get back on track and why it is so important for people to do so. This is not a stepwise manual toward self-fulfillment. Rather, it's a book of the author's own decisive path, and as such, certain sections of the book will be more relevant than others. Fortunately, Whyte knows firsthand what the corporate world is like and shows how he got back to writing poetry and what the costs and benefits were of doing so. Now he works in the corporate world, using his poetry self to help those who have left behind their creative, inner selves to regain them. It appears he has found the best of both worlds.

I was "moved" and inspired by this book which was a gift from a respected Executive Coach. This books assists all that want to deepen their connection to their life's work or find out what their life's work is. The author states that far too many people trudge through a mediocre work life - scrambling through day-to-day "busyness" towards exhaustion. Rather he encourages more time for self-reflection and analysis. While many most often want to get away from work - it's where many spend the majority of their time, and it's where many spend much of it wishing they were somewhere else, doing something else. Many overlook how work can actually be our greatest opportunity for discovery and growth - and author explains how. The Chapters include the following:

1) Setting out with firm persuasion
2) A stranger at the door
3) From Powerlessness to participation
4) Ambition, Horizon and Arrival
5) A short Sea Crossing
6) From Exhaustion to Wholeheartedness
7) Arrival and Authenticity
8) When the real you wants out
9) Escaping the Prison of Time and Work
10) A voyage through the hours of the day

I don't often pick up books that threaten to be more touchy-feely than substantive, as the title of this book and its first few pages implied to me. But I read it upon the advice of a friend.

David Whyte has one foot firmly planted in the practical with the other firmly planted in the spiritural and, by the end of the book, you have an idea about how you might achieve a similar posture. One of the reasons Mr. Whyte can pull this off is because he is both a genuine artist--a poet--and has substantial experience in the nuts-and-bolts corporate world. In fact, he has billed himself and sold himself (lucratively, apparently) as a corporate poet.

"Crossing the Unknown Sea" refers to the author's life adventure in search of a career and a meaningful life. I suspect it is because of his roots in poetry that he can write as a novelist--not by virtue of plot or character development, because there is little of that other than the plot of his own life and the development of his own charachter--but because of his ability to use words to capture subtle and deep meanings without sounding as if he were trying to do just that.

I could go on. The book as been a kick-off point for my own life's adventure for which I had already been preparing. However, it is a book well worth reading for its own sake, even if you aren't in the market for a life adventure for yourself.

Peter Drucker continues to inspire posthumously.
Every day the insight from the reading helps me to assess my personal life and how it affects others.
Excellent book.

Think about your daily physical exercise regimen. Now compare that to the mental exercise routine you use in your journey to become a life-long learner. Come up a little short? The Daily Drucker will help.

In my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit, "The Drucker Bucket" honors Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, who was welcomed to his heavenly home in 2005, just a few days shy of his 96th birthday. His seminal book, Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, runs 839 pages. Here's the Drucker Bucket core competency:

"We are privileged to be leaders and managers and we steward that privilege by being lifelong learners and practitioners in the art of management. We don't just give lip service to management--we are disciplined students of great leadership and management thinkers like Peter Drucker, Ken Blanchard and others."

I encourage my clients to read at least one book by Peter Drucker every year. If you're in management, why would you not want to learn from the management guru? To dip your toe in the Drucker Bucket, read The Daily Drucker.

Bestselling author Bob Buford, who graciously wrote the foreword to my book, mentions Drucker in the foreword, "Peter always said, `The purpose of management is not to make the Church more businesslike, but more Church-like." Drucker was a gift to all of us. This is the perfect book.

I think one has to be mature enough to understand, at least on some level, and appreciate the wisdoms of Mr. Drucker collected in this compact and very intense book, but once you get them, you become a different person.

This book offers excellent insight into Drucker's writings on business philosophy. For those who have never read Drucker at all, this book is a great starting point, as it encapsulates much of his writing into a single volume. The book is of particular value to anyone working in a service-related company, especially in a society where knowledge is one of the most powerful assets managers are required to protect and preserve.

An entry from January 7th reads: "Knowledge workers own the means of production...the organization needs them more than they need the organization..." The action point listed is, "Attract and retain the highest producing knowledge workers by treating them and their knowledge as the organization's most valuable assets."

The information provided in this book, when put into practice, will help any manager become more efficient and reflective about how her/his actions fit into the bigger picture. The foreword, by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, is also very worth reading and gives a little-seen and inspirational glimpse of Drucker.

The book was in good condition and was delivered on time. It is a great read!!

There are many things I like about this book, but what I like best is that it's honest. Unlike many other books, it doesn't promise you the world, and a successful career overnight, but instead gives you an inside look at the music industry and guides you on how to make things happen for yourself.
The language is conversational, and the author has a great sense of humour. It simplifies issues most artists find confusing (like legal documents and royalty calcuation!) and is a great read.
'Getting Signed!' is a text book, idiot's guide and light read all rolled into one. It helped me a lot, and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who wants to have anything to do with the music business.
George Howard also teaches a number of great courses at berkleemusic online.

Highly Recommended! This is an excellent book for any one who is in the Music Industry or wants to understand how the Music Industry works. I purchased this book as part of the reading for Berklee Music Online course - "Inside the Record Industry". It helped me a lot with my course work and also in understanding how the Music Industry works. Thank you George !
Paulom

This book will take you step by step through all of the motions of getting yourself signed to a label. From press kits to the qualities that make a good manager, this book will hold your hand through the dark abyss that is the music industry. I would consider this a must read for anyone who would like to perform as a career. I personally have passed this on to all my bandmates, and many many friends. Do yourself a favor, and pick this up!

This is the book I needed when I was 15 years old, and grasping at any information to help move forward with a music career. Define where you are in your development as an artist, define where you would like to go, and more importantly why you want to go there. Then take action with the knowledge and confidence to realize your dreams and goals. Learn what labels look for in bands and artists, and how to position yourself to negotiate a win/win deal for yourself. Learn all the perspectives of the business of music from artist, label, distributor, publicity, and promotion, to management, and booking agents. Basically everything you need to understand to be successful, written in an understandable and accessible style, with a sense of humor. I loved it and learned so much I could write my own book with the research it inspired me to undertake. Don't just dream big, learn what it takes to do the work to become successful.

George Howard knows the music biz inside and out - reading this book is like having a top A&R guy as your personal coach. For everyone out there who wants to start a label or get a deal, the author dispels a lot of myths and helps you to focus systematically on the jobs you could and should be doing yourself. A very enjoyable read, this book is broken down into manageable chapters that give you the information and tools to help you reach your goals.

The book provides a common sense approach to instilling behaviors which promote positive outcomes in healthcare. As you read through each chapter the author builds the on the content provided from the previous chapter. It certainly demonstrates how you can be instrumental in having a "domino effect" just by being consistent and positive in relationships.

I highly recommend this book to any organization who is trying to create a positive service excellence experience for people and patients in the hospital. Service excellence programs come and go but hard wiring excellence is here to stay. This book provides practical advice and examples of how to change behaviors in an organization which impacts service excellence.

"For many who work in health care today, overwhelming business pressures and perceived barriers to change have nearly extinguished their flame of passion to help others.

Join Quint Studer and thousands of Fire Starters nationwide on an awe-inspiring journey of purpose, worthwhile work, and making a difference.

Hear Quint's personal story and learn how you can apply specific prescriptive tools and practices to create and sustain a worldclass organization... a great place for employees to work, physicians to practice and patients to receive care.

LET YOUR FLAME BURN BRIGHT."

[from the book of the back cover]

Whether one is in healthcare or a non related industry, this book provides superb solutions to providing excellent customer care. As a certified brand strategist, I greatly appreciate Mr. Studer's articulation that one must, and can, hardwire the processes in order to achieve true and perpetual customer service. And he points it out so very well - if one first focuses on superb employee relations, then one will achieve a high level of customer relations.


It is my observation that too many consultants go into companies, identify the customer service issues, hold one or more rah rah events, and then move on to their next project. More correctly, I believe a consultant's responsibility is to work with organization clients to, as Mr. Studer so clearly addresses, hardwire the processes which then will indeed achieve the relationship with employees, channel partners and customers that will so clearly set them apart from their competitors, thereby creating customers who become advocates.

If you are looking for a way to make a difference in your organization from a leadership perspective,(or even on a personal level) you must read this book. Rather than focusing on the negatives, it focuses on the positives of creating excellence-for the patient, the staff, the physicians and all who come in contact with the organization. It is well worth the read!!

This is one of the best books I have ever read on leadership. The author outlines a realistic approach with proven techniques. I've grown tired of all the silly communication methods and manipulations, found in the flood of many books on the market, on how to motivate those under your supervision. Paul Howe knows how to lead. If you are truly interested in leadership, this book is highly recommended. On the other hand, if you are looking for quick fixes and feel good techniques, you should move on to a management in corporate America style book. There are many to choose from.

Outstanding book by a true professional. MSG Howe is the real deal and an outstanding authority in his field. Would recommend this for any law enforcement or military professional.

Very good book, well structured, pleasant to read. The examples are clear, and the theories easy to apply, even if you aren't L.E. or military.

This is the best book on military leadership and training I have ever read and I have read a few on this subject. All of my team leaders are reading it now after hearing nothing but great reviews from myself. I think all NCO's in the Army, reguardless of MOS, should read this book.

There seems to be no shortage of leadership books available to our self-help addicted society. How many people do you know who brag about having read "The Art of War"? This is not one of these types of books. I mention "The Art of War" because I find it helpful to draw parallels between life and battle. I find that if I approach my life's commitments and challenges like all-out warfare, I tend to get after it with aggression and a hunger for success.
If you feel the same, this book might be for you. In truth, this book is geared mostly for soldiers and police specifically combatants of the special ops variety and swat officers. In short it is by and for modern Spartan warriors.
You will have to work to draw your own connections between how you run your organization, business, or life, but if you are not inspired by some of the greatest men to walk among us, you are dead inside.
If you are in charge of or lead anything and you are interested in developing your leadership skills, you will find it here. If you think that leadership in the world's harshest conditions when the bullets are flying and men are dying doesn't apply to how you run your small business, ask yourself this, "Is there a difference between kinds of leadership, or is good leadership in concept more or less the same everywhere?" The only real difference is that if you are a shooter, your failures in leadership can cost lives, in business it is only money.
If you are considering this book, take the journey and trust the author to share his ideals and wisdom with you.
This book feels aggressive and extreme in it's intent to convey to the reader not just leadership skills, but in philosophy towards life.
We all want to be like the guy in the movies who remains calm and wins in the chaos of extreme conditions, this book shows you how. If you could do this imagine how you could attack your own life.

If you want a very, very basic introduction to Economics, this book is a good one. However, as an Economics major in college, I was looking more for a reference book to refresh my fading knowledge. This book doesn't have that level of detail.

I gave it five stars, because it's not the book's fault that I wanted something different.

The text is excellent and is suitable for any type of introductary Ecnonomics class. It can be used in a tough course or an easy course, as it provides a great level of organization so that the instructor may choose the material at his discretion depending on his course lay out.

Among all the textbooks I have seen in economics, I have found Mankiw's to be the best. It is clear and concise, addressing all the important intermediate issues in macroeconomics. The description of concepts is simple, and the book benefits from a three pronged approach to teaching - graphical, mathematical, and anecdotal. The student is free to choose whichever one he feels most comfortable learning from.

I'd recommend this along w/ "The Economic Way of Thinking" by Heyne, as the two best Econ textbooks I've read. Mankiw's book is fair and balanced, he is not a frothing at the mouth partisan, and it is a straightforward explanation of basic economic terms. However, he establishes a handful of core truths that anyone who wishes to understand economics must accept, and if not accept, explain as to why these certain truths don't apply. For example, Mankiw establishes that 1.) free markets work better than regulated markets, 2.) private property and incentives are necessary for productivity 3.) trade makes everyone wealthier.

He does not explain these in a polemical way, but he calmly establishes a solid case for these (and other principles), and despite being fairly standard in economic circles, they are fairly contentious in the realm of political economics and discourse (particularly on the collegiete level, where English Major Marxists think they know more about the social order than those who study the social order). This makes the book more persuasive than a fire and brimstone screed from an Ann Coulter type. Books like this need to be read by all to improve the Economical I.Q. of the voting public.

As an instructor of introductory macroeconomics, I often rue the fact that we do not utilize this textbook. I borrow material from it INCESSANTLY and without shame.

It presents the "Keynesian" viewpoint on macroeconomics in an extraordinarily clear and interesting fashion. Frankly, I consider the introductory (read literally - first semester macro books) texts to be a waste of time. There is absolutely no reason this textbook should not be used for a first semester macroeconomics course (assuming one has already taken an introductory microeconomics course).

Suggested plan of study for those interested in a fairly serious study of macroeconomics (without an INSANE amount of mathematical preparation): this book and Barro's book with the same title. Barro's book presents the real business cycle theory approach in a clear manner (though the book is somewhat dull in comparison)...then decide for yourself which 'camp' is making the most sense.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. There is a wealth of advice on best practice for both Excel and VBA, which has not only prompted me to change the way I design new projects, but to revise old projects also. There are also a huge number of examples, including an application developed throughout the course of the book, which demonstrate applications for all the techniques discussed. Definitely not for the beginner, but there's loads of stuff here for intermediate to advanced developers. I think I'll be using this as a desktop reference for a long time to come...

This book of advanced Excel development was recommended to me by a co-worker whose project I inherited that used the concepts in the book based on the "Petras Template" example. It's classy and polished VBA programming and sure, you can brag about the concepts to the techies interviewing you during your next job hunt.

But, be careful.

The book introduces us to the concept of add-ins and templates. So, there you are showing off your project to your manager or users. But, what do they click on? The add-in or the template? What are all those true/false cells over there? How can the user save the workbook? What heppens if you forget to hide the columns that use cell logic. Hmmm. These questions and others will be asked of your typically non-technical users who have NO idea what goes on behind the scenes. If they open up the template and screw around with the code or re-name the add-in, you'll have chaos.

To be fair, there's tons of advanced concepts to learn here and no doubt you'll benefit from them. But, remember, as a developer, your first goal is to produce a robust application. However, you may have click a couple of functions to get all tabs in your template to show. If you don't do that, you can't see them! Oh, and don't forget to save your add-in.xla or all your changes won't take effect.

Not for beginners or dummies, but for VERY careful developers!

This is a great book for power programmers. But be aware, this book is not for those who want to learn Excel. It's just for those who know Excel and want to imrove their programming capabilities.

When picking up this book, I was an advanced Excel user. Having discovered most of its features by trial-and-error, and coming from a fairly solid programming background, I understood well the interaction between the underlying object model and the sheets appearing on the screen to end users. I have also crafted many sophisticated worksheet formulas, and explored just about every suggestion of literature such as "Excel Hacks" and "Advanced Excel Report Development".

Professional Excel Development offers ideas and tools necessary for designing full-fledged, robust Excel-based applications. It does not spend time explaining how various features work, but rather goes into detail on how to put these features to best use.

Here is what I picked up from this book, together with the authors' Excel 2003 VBA reference:
* ways to leverage Excel's built-in features to avoid excessive coding
* advanced design techniques for using Excel as a WYSIWYG interface designer
* techniques for creating custom menu bars and programming their behavior
* various means of interacting with the user and simplifying their sessions by providing guidance as to which steps need to be taken
* restricting the Excel environment to take on the appearance of a product condusive of the goal stated in previous bullet
* using VBA in conjunction with the Excel object model to create powerful object-oriented structures for spreadsheet-based applications
* programming Excel-based solutions in an executable to provide a more standalone application
* using Windows API calls to increase robustness of the application

One key feature of this book is its consistent approach. The authors maintain a consistent structure, using the same application throughout the book for their "practical example" to demonstrate new features made available through the material in each chapter. Also, the "best practices" approach provides a level of consistency that is generally desired of anywhat sophisticated applications. Useable modules are provided on the accompanying CD, ready to be used in readers' own applications.

In the beginning, the authors explain the audiences for which this book may or may not be intended. They separate these into users, power users, VBA developers, Excel developers, and professional developers. The latter three categories of users will benefit the most from this book, each in his/her own way. VBA developers will learn how to use built-in features (I think this is where I started); Excel developers will learn how to incorporate Excel-based solutions into larger applications; Professional developers will be exposed to a great variety of "best practices", optimization techniques, and various other means for developing consistency in Excel applications.

If you do not fall into the latter three categories, you might not pick up much from this book. It is not useless to you, however; you can still find many worksheet/userform design techniques, and get an introduction to the kind of power VBA-based programming can offer. Nonetheless, you may be well-advised to start off with something simpler, such as John Walkenbach's Excel Power Programming (as alluded to by the authors of this book), simply because the present book assumes a good degree of knowledge and leaves much for the reader to figure out from the fully-functional examples provided - thereby covering the ground that it does.

Overall, this book makes for a wonderful reference to the various under-the-hood features of Excel. Even if you've already encountered many of the techniques described, and could technically discover them further on your own, it is useful to have them readily available in a single collection. Very few items are left out; application design, object-oriented programming techniques, database applications, debugging techniques, Office automation, and external interop are all covered here. Professional Excel Development is a solid reference to be consulted for years to come.

When you search the web and most of the books around, you can find solution to your problems most of the time, but you are rarely sure it was the best way to do it and how it would fit to the rest of your code. The authors of this book are not afraid to tell what they suppose to be the best for you, along with full featured versions of code illustrating each chapter.

I found it easy to take the code from a sufficiently leveled chapter and adapt it to get just the application that I needed, knowing it would be fast, clean and complete at the same time, although I didn't understand all the details at first. Now, the book serves as a widely findable documentation for the packages that I make. Highly recommendable.

Talk about a seven-course menu!

If you are even remotely considering starting any type of restaurant or food operation, this book isn't dessert, but an absolute necessity, especially when you consider that a recent Ohio study found that a failure rate of between 57 and 61 percent for restaurants in their first year of operation.

It's hard to imagine any topic this book doesn't cover in its 39 extensively researched chapters, whether it's on how to get a sign permit, obtain financing, execute a successful business plan or, my favorite, how to speak "the language of wine."

Don't even think about opening a food place without reading this first. As many doughy thumbs up as a book can get.

This book offers information on starting a restaurant from the ground up. If you have just the idea of starting a restaurant, this book will take you by the hand and guide you through every step of making your idea a reality. My family owned a restaurant and I can not imagine any knowledge I gained from that experience that was not covered in this handbook. The writer goes into great detail about how important it is to pick the right location for your restaurant and match your restaurant's theme to your target market. It covers the all important factor of cleanliness and how it could make or break the success of your business. There are several worksheets in the handbook that would serve as great templates to use in real life work situations, everything from budgeting to how to write an efficient business plan.

Advertising for a small business can be very expensive, but there many great tips in the reading that will help spread the word about your establishment that are absolutely free. There is a section that will give you great ideas on hiring and keeping the best staff available. There is also advice for those who want to open a franchise, instead of going it alone. The instructions on writing a menu should be very helpful in attracting customers into your establishment. There are strategies on forecasting expenses to insure you get the maximum benefit from your cash flow. The author provides great design guidelines to set up your dinning room in order to appeal to your customers. This book would be a great resource for any restaurant owner and would serve anyone in restaurant management well.

this is a solid, almost academic, handbook. it's points you toward the things you need to figure out but you'll still need to get additional information on your local regulations. personnaly, it discouraged me from opening a buisness at this time.

Want to open a restaurant? This is certainly THE book you need.
It covers every little detail - from the best skin protecting gloves your prep cooks should use to the type of silverware you should have based on your restaurant's style.
It's like a restaurant bible, I just got mine today when I was about to step out to the gym, and alas, this arrives.

Boy was I tempted to bring it with me and plop it on top of the treadmill while I exercised, but I didn't want to get strange stares hahaha.
Overall, it's an excellent excellent book. All of my questions are being answered. Highly recommended!

The title may be a bit of an understatement - The Restaurant Manager's Handbook goes well beyond the basics of restaurant management, ultimately encompassing the entire scope of owning and running a full-service restaurant. In an industry where, as this book points out, a large percentage of ventures fail, a comprehensive resource like this can prove an invaluable tool for restaurant owners and managers, one that you'll return to again and again.
The Restaurant Manager's Handbook runs a full 1,057 pages, making it a reference tome that covers all the bases - from "pre-owing" business planning and research to active operation and management practices . The guide offers hard-line business advice, but presents it in a way that's easy to read and eminently accessible to the novice restaurateur .
Never written a business plan? It's in there. Don't know the first thing about effective public relations? It's in there. Need the lowdown on menu planning? Yep, that's in there too. Linen service. Music licensing. Kitchen layout. Food preparation safety. Employee relations. Planning to open a bar, not a restaurant? Don't let the title fool you - it's covered.
The guide also includes numerous valuable resources - from reproducible forms (for everything from food facility compliance checklists to acquisition and inventory to cook's lists, and more) to detailed lists of suppliers for everything from flatware to point of sale systems. And if you still need a little encouragement, check out the case studies of successful restaurant ventures with practical advice from those who've been there . . .

This is a great tool to use continuously to help focus one's thoughts and actions on setting goals and staying on track to realize them. Keep it handy, it will help you every day of the year with it's timeless and practical applications.

I know opening success 2000 has changed my life for the good, and has unmasked my true life and purpose.

I love this book and am grateful for having it as a resource to share with my coaching clients. It's practical, with steps that make sense for being happy and fulfilled in your career and life as a whole. It's all about integration and the author is a fabulous model for that in her life.

Success 2000 is a basic tool in my coaching toolbox. It is the starting point for all of my clients, whether they are seeking a change of employment, feeling unsure of their future, or looking for fulfillment in life. I have suggested for family, friends and those inquiring about coaching to read this book as a way of beginning to examine what is important in their lives. Are most people innately able to look at themselves and figure out what to do next? I know I was not able to do so, despite having advanced professional training in an allied medical field. I did not know where to start to make the changes I felt somehow were necessary for me to find fulfillment. Vicki Spina presents a user friendly format to assist the reader in self-assessment, and to start the process of reflection which precedes change. I appreciate the straight-forward philosophy and techniques which gently move the reader forward on the search for meaning. This is a book worth reading and rereading. It is a great resource for learning to move from A to Z in finding what one wants in life.

This book is a practical and fun guide which will help you become successful focussing/defining your goals and working towards whatever you wish to have greater success in. Whether you need a drastic change or just a tune up. This book is the ticket! I just loved it! Thanks Vicki for sharing your experience, knowledge and caring.

Michael A. Stelzner's Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged describes a detailed step-by-step program for creating effective white papers and leveraging them into corporate and small business profits.

Based on Michael's years of experience, and on-going research conducted with over 600 write paper writers and users, nothing has been left to chance. Among the things you'll learn:
* Why white papers succeed
* Who uses white papers
* How do they use them?
* How white papers differ from other marketing communications
* Different types of white papers
* How to choose the right title
* Research and interview tips and techniques
* White paper design guidelines

There's even several samples of completed white papers, plus tips for locating additional sources, such as a discussion forum for white paper users and writers.

Although aimed at writers and users of white papers, Stelzner's book has lessons to teach a broader audience of authors and writers. Any self-employed professional interested in writing a book to promote their competence and expertise and will Michael Stelzner's Writing White Papers an excellent guide to creating trade books and e-books.

This is a well written guide to developing white papers that is perfect for the novice or the professional. The book is easy to read and the principles easy to apply. I will use it as reference book for years to come. Jeb Blount, author of PowerPrinciples: Do you have the Winning Edge?

I found reading this book to be an easy read, a great pleasure and very informative. I love books like these which provide concrete information that is full of practical and readily usable examples. As you can tell, I loved the book. Example outlines for the different objectives was particularly helpful. I'm already using the tips and guidelines to accelerate the entire effort by being more effective and more efficient.

Mr. Selzner's bookis a thorough and readable guide to how to write white papers. He defines what a white paper is, provides examples of white papers, provides detailed guidance on how to write different types of white papers, and identifies difficulties writers often encounter and how to overcome them. A excellent guide and resource on white papers.

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of white papers; how to write them and how to use them effectively. Then I read WRITING WHITE PAPERS by the King of white papers, Michael Stelzner. This book put white papers in a whole new light for me. When I reviewed Dan Kennedy's book, "The Ultimate Sales Letter", I said that no one should even attempt to write a sales letter without first reading Kennedy's book. Ditto here. Don't even think about attempting to construct a white paper without first learning from the white paper master.

Stelzner takes the reader by the hand and walks you through the world of white papers, beginning with a succinct definition and the four primary types of white papers. From here, you'll learn how white papers should be used and the basic elements that all white papers should contain. Once this basic information is clearly defined, we follow Stelzner's ten-step process of writing white papers. The rest of the book is a compelling study of these ten steps.

Throughout the book, the text is laced with clear examples. Everyone will find their own favorite chapter along the way. For me, it was Chapter 5, particularly time saving research techniques. In just minutes on the computer, I was saving hours of time on google, simply by using the proper search techniques, making google searches much more effective.

Once your white paper education here is complete, Stelzner concludes with a chapter on Marketing with White Papers. I believe, for the writer, there is much to learn here on how to effectively "pitch" a potential client on whether or not to commission a white paper for their company or product.

The Appendix contains a Quick Start Guide, a pair of well-crafted white papers samples, and white paper resources. I don't believe much has been left out here. This is a pretty conclusive guide, with the exception of maybe Stelzner sharing advice on how to go about landing such clients as Microsoft, Motorola and FedEx. Maybe that will be in the next volume.