Public Interest Books

There is not a whole lot of helpful information out there when evaluating childcare choices. I found this book to be a wonderful source of information about all daycare options. It really tells the pros and cons and was very comprehensive. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for childcare!

I agree with other reviewers. This is a very helpful guide to choosing childcare, whether you are looking for childcare for a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, or a grade schooler. The author covers both in-home and out-of-home childcare options -- everything from family daycare to childcare centers to nannies and babysitters. I also thoroughly recommend Choosing Childcare for Dummies, another book by Ann Douglas (the author of The Unofficial Guide to Childcare) as well as The Nanny Book by Susan Carlton and Coco Myers (for parents who are considering hiring a nanny).

Having this book on hand is like having a sympathetic, understanding friend who knows everything there is to know about finding and keeping the best care for your child, how you and your child feel about all the childcare issues, and what you need to do to prevent trouble -- and to fix it all those times you can't prevent it! The appendixes are especially helpful, with their lists of organizations, books, websites, important documents and relevant statistics. I would recommend it highly for parents, caregivers and childcare professionals.

If you're the kind of person who likes to research things thoroughly, this is the book for you. It's far more comprehensive than any other childcare book on the market, covering important issues that most other books ignore, like how to prevent problems in your relationship with your childcare provider (whether a nanny or a member of the daycare center staff) and how to troubleshoot any difficulties that happen to arise. There are also tons of great checklists and valuable resources (e.g. a list of caregiver-child ratios for various ages and for each state; lists of the most useful childcare web sites; the inside scoop on what to pay your childcare provider; and more). I think this book should be required reading for every working parent in America!

Why is it so difficult to find a book that is succinct and gets to the point quickly? I could not believe how much useless information was in this book, burying the information I was really looking for.

I am an intelligent working mother. I want answers quickly. I don't have time to wade through so much stuff that is irrelevant to me. Who has time to read all this stuff? It seemed like the author kept adding more "stuff" so the book would be longer. Some chapters... like returning to work while breastfeeding... were completely irrelevant to the topic of locating childcare.

What I did like about this book was that it made me feel "normal" about the feelings I am having. However, there was way too much of that kind of stuff in a book that I hoped would be a more hands-on guide that would help me understand all my childcare options and guide me through the minefield of locating somebody I could trust.

I'm still waiting for the "official" guide to childcare!

Not until we get to page 38 does the reader get anything practical.
The author fills 38 pages to the brim with grotesquely out of proportion illustrations,
a religious butchering of the English grammar, and simplistic platitudes such as,

Depth is defined as, Depth: "Websters defines depth as, "Measuring the distance of anything from top to bottom".

Then, in case the reader doesn't yet understand what the word, "depth," means, on the next page the reader finds an illustration obviously drawn by the author's 4 year old German Shepherd. This drawing is of a well, with a sign next to it, which reads, "Deep Well."

This is after she explains to the reader that, to see in three dimensions, one needs "ridiculous glasses." She writes that we can hear 3 dimensional sound without such added perception enhancers.

Did this author finish grade school? I have been seeing in 3 dimensions without "added perception enhancers." Obviously, this author can only see through one eye.

The only helpful part of this book is where, toward the end, the author copies and pastes from a better book, Change Your Voice, Change Your Life. To her credit, she gives credit to that author.

Save your money, your time, and your self-respect by not opening this book, even if you get it for a penny.

Far better books follow:

Voice and The Actor
The Actor Speaks
Change Your Voice, Change Your Life

This book deserves one star for directing the reader to the better book by Dr. Cooper.

Perfect novel for anyone and everyone looking to gain knowledge on the voice and speaking. I would highly recommend it. Fun read and best resources! Great job JONI

This is an awesome and helpful book. The only thing that it is missing is how to sing. I would recommend this to anyone who is shy and wants to develop a much stronger voice.

I have to give this book three stars out of five (somehow I felt "conditioned" to give it five) because I feel it puts too much of an emphasis on strengthening the voice (I didn't know it needed to lift weights...would I want it to either?) and making it deeper and lower (way too stereotypical & dated: I know this may sound hard to believe, but I truly DON'T want to sound like James Earl Jones).

For me, personally, I felt like I was afflicted with the "pretty girl syndrome" voice: you sound like Brooke Shields (strained and perfectionistic) at times, but YOU'RE A BOY! My very pretty sister has the same problem (I probably picked up some of this nightmare from her) and I can't stand listening to her talk. I found out that this comes from TENSION and it sounds horrible: this book helped clear that up for me. I also realized my voice is more masculine than I thought which I'm not entirely comfortable with, but I can get pleasantly used to.

Like, I'm pretty playful when it comes to my voice and am effective with it when I imitate or joke around. When I have to be me...I got into this really bad habit during adolescence where I just blew off the whole voice thing and it carried over into my adulthood, especially when I'm supposed to be "serious".

What I would say is that the book is informative and that it gives the basic mechanisms of voice. My problem with it is that I'm going to have to reread and just pick out the parts of the book that are pertinent or relevant to what I want: I basically have to wade through and edit the whole book for myself now which is annoying, but I guess this stuff is work (but it shouldn't be: the author could have made it a little more effortless and pure). Like using the tongue and slackening the jaw and laying off the larynx for that heavy tension, but it's a pretty good primer anyways.

The author is too likable in that you're more willing to give her an A+ (she has this slick ability of getting you in fun mode and also like you get the feeling "if you don't give this book five stars this puppy will die" kind of feel) when it should be lower. It also tends to get a little too cutesy and optimistic at times (I think a "negative" voice can sound interesting at times: who wants to sound positive at a funeral? and is an optimistic, newscaster's voice that hip?).

I'm definitely getting Change your voice, change your life cause I want my already bashfully masculine voice to be real, unaffected, and not lifting weights each and everyday (I found a lot of the exercises annoying and conterproductive to my purposes and intent).

There are a LOT of distracting mispellings (Hypocrites instead of Hippocrates) and misprints that don't affect the content or information of the book, but are still sloppy. I'm just grateful I got the basic, 3d one on voice and not the 3d business voices (how cheesy must that voice sound like?). A good basic book, but BEWARE of sounding cheesy (deep and brawny voiced like that paper towel guy: yeah, that's the male ideal) and not so with it.

This books contains lots of fun exercises to make your voice sound fuller and richer - giving it depth, width and length. You will find a brief overview of vocal anatomy, just enough to get acquainted with your equipment, but not too much to put you to sleep - there is a reference to books if you want to know more. At the beginning of the book, there is a list of common problems people experience and you can do self-analysis to discover what would you like to improve with your voice and focus more on exercises that help to correct that particular problem. The book is easy to read, the exercises are fun to do and best of all, most of them you can do at any time anywhere, and the suggestions in the book are very helpful.

David Gero has covered many of the 1000's of Air Incdents in this book.

I would have liked to have seen more photos or Drawings relating to individual incidents.

The more recents incidents where much information is available today, I thought, were somewhat vague, felt they could have been elaborated on.
However an excellent reference text. Recommend for an collection.

By far, the best book I've come across covering a wide range of airline mishaps. Many notable and obscure crashes over the last five decades are covered, with special attention paid to some of the more mysterious ones. I was especially pleased at the attention given the mysterious mid-air explosion of the TWA 747 shortly after takeoff from JFK and the USAir 737 that had an uncontrolled rudder deflection. Both crashes were covered in good detail.
I was a bit disappointed, however, with the omission of 2 crashes that I wanted to know more about, namely the 737 at KLAX that was given clearance to land on a runway already occupied by a Fairchild Metroliner, and the PSA Bae146 that was suicide-crashed near So. California.
All in all, though, a good book for those interested in such things.

According to Sutton, the fourth edition of this excellent reference has now been released. My review of the third edition:

The book includes only airline disasters which involved more than 50 fatalities. This is a shortcoming because many substantial lessons have been learned in accidents involving fewer fatalities. For example, only one of the two fatal Lockheed L-188 Electra crashes that were attributed to the "whirl-mode" phenomenon (see also: Robert Serling, "The Electra Story") made it into the book. Both of the early Comet disasters which were caused by fuselage skin fatigue and resulting explosive cabin decompression are omitted. Also, the Northwest B-720B which suffered a jet upset and resulting structural failure in an area of thunderstorm activity west of Miami, Florida in 1963 is also omitted. However, the book is well-worth its purchase price and it includes a summary of each accident, along with the probable cause, a list of publications consulted, a brief glossary, and a good index in which the entries are by aircraft type.

This book is absolutely fabulous. It covers in excellent detail every major air crash from 1950-1999. Some get small descriptions, but the most notable (Pan AM and KLM 747's on the runway at Tenerife, USAir 737 in Pittsburgh, TWA 800, Air Florida 090 (14th St Bridge in Washington), Korean Air 007 (Shot down by the Soviets) and more get very detailed descriptions. Addidtionally the author simply spells out the facts. He doesn't editorialize like other disaster books do. It's a fascinating historical read.

I did not see anything in the the book about the first
airplane crash on November 1, 1955 involving a bomb
hidden in a passenger's luggage. A man named John Graham
put a bomb in his mother's luggage and then took out an
insurance policy on her life while he was at the airport
in Denver where the airplane took off from. His mother
was a passenger on the airplane that crashed.

Also left out was the PSA flight that crashed in San Luis
Obispo County, California because an employee that had been
fired by the airline still had his employee identification
badge. He shot the pilot of the airplane. At that time

airline employees were able to bypass airport security if
they had an employee identification badge. Now all airline
employees are required to go through security just like the
passengers, which is good.

Other than these omissions the book is well-written and well-
researched.

I picked up this book because I am mentoring someone who wants to overcome their fear of public speaking. While I have extensive experience as a public speaker, I did not have any references to help my protege.

After reviewing several books I chose this one because Ivy addresses some areas which I consider important including the physical aspect of public speaking and not merely the preparation of a speech.

I laughed as I read this book because what she recommends I employ in my public speaking. The one topic I did not see was controlling nervous habits such as verbal fillers and physical twitches.

Overall, highly recommended! I am encouraging my 12-year old daughter to read it to strengthen her school presentations.

I found this book to be immediate help, I would recommend it to anyone new or experienced at speaking before a group. Part 1 was the most helpful, many books cover how to speak in public but this is the first one to cover where the fear originates and how to over come it.

This is a very strong tool for those looking to improve their public speaking skills. The author is evidently very experienced in this area, and she offers very valuable insights into the tools, tricks and methods of success in her profession.

One thing I did not like about this book, is that the author continually tries to connect a speaker's anxiety or poor performance to some traumatic episode that occurred in their childhood. For example, a business executive who, as a child had his parents continually remind him that kids "are to be seen and not heard" had trouble being confident and articulate in front of an audience. This is great for those who have such experiences, but leaves many of us out in the cold.

I have had no such traumatic experiences, but still get anxious before and during a presentation. Although this "natural anxiety" is not covered in much detail, the author does do a good job explaining how to channel the anxiety into a productive energy, and she does well explaining the importance of rehearsing before presenting.

This is the 3rd one I've read on speaking and it really turned my head around. It has such a fresh style! Its also the only one where I felt the author was speaking to me. Speaking in public always been tough for me and I actually feel charged up for my next presentation. Tons of tools, tips, stories, etc. Loved it.

Great book. The thing I really like about this book is that it helps the reader identify all the reasons for why we all get nervous and gives us a blueprint for getting past them and/or working through them. The nervousness profiles are terrific - I had a presentation a few weeks ago and normally I just "wing it" but this time I realized I didn't know the material as deeply as usual and it was pretty technical. I had a bad experience presenting a few years ago under similar circumstances so I started getting nervous and dreading it. I used the profiles to narrow down my type, followed the recommendations and it worked! The methods for preparing and organizing are first rate and there's a gold mine of tips of all kinds. The author's real world experiences are often amusing and those of her clients are insightful. The book has a delightful tone that keeps it light and easy even when uncomfortable topics are discussed. As a senior manager, my responsibility is to guide others to improve and I'm recommending it to my team. I think just about anyone who speaks or gives presentations could benefit greatly by reading this.

I saw this fairly obscure book recommended by Harvard Business Review Online. I'm an MBS student and this is a great introduction to the dual nature of auditors: in the business of making money but supposedly beholden ot the public. The author does a great job of showing how the big firms got caught up in the quest for business and forgot about their second duty. Not sure why I haven't seen more of this book; probably not sensationalistic enough.

While there are several other books that cover this general history, this book digs in with much greater detail. Throughout its long (but not exhaustive) review of the history of public accounting and auditing, many primary sources give a much better overview of the politics and controversies that have plagued accounting over the years. Linking 1930s legislation to the latest accounting debacle was no easy feat, but the book does so with several clear theses that are well-linked throughout.

Instead of repeating the same "SarBox will fix it" conclusions about the future of accounting, this book returns to its primary research in to present a more well-rounded impression of what challenges the future brings, what time bombs are (still!) waiting for the profession and what those on both sides of the regulatory line have to say abou it.

This book starts with the history of accounting, from about 8000 BC continuing to current events. This is better than it sounds. A main focus of the book is on the development of the accounting culture in the United States from the 1890s, the development of accounting standards, and how accountants gained the public trust. An important theme is that without the public trust, auditors don't have anything to sell; what good is the assurance of someone who can not be trusted?

The majority of the book focuses on recent and current events. Beginning in the 1950s, the culture of audit firms changed so that the focus was on growth and building a profitable business. Prior to that, there was a much greater awareness of the public as a major stakeholder. It is called public accounting after all. The coverage of the culture shift and the resulting loss of faith in the audit profession is first rate. This is a problem that the profession is just beginning to address. Good information if you are interested in a career as an auditor.

This provided to be an extremely valuable wider context to research that I was doing on Arthur Andersen's demise. It begins with the ancient Greeks and their Ventian counterparts during the Renaissance(!), and progresses to the present-day crisis in the accounting profession. Brewster writes about it all as clearly as a professional writer-reporter would, which is enjoyable considering how many dry and self-serving academic books there are on the subject today. While he does not add anything all that original about the present time, his book does convincingly demonstrate that AA was not any worse than the other firms, though with a series of missteps and its involvement with Enron it made itself, in Brewster's words, "an ideal target" of the government. But all the big acct firms desired to make money from their insider knowledge: they lost their ideal of public service, i.e. guarantors of the underpinings of the capitalist system. This bears out my own research and as such is an extremely useful book for anyone attempting to put this arcane and vital-for-capitalism discipline - accounting - in context.

Recommended as an ideal introduction to those who are interested. Admittedly, that is a rather important caveat.

and bought the book, because thats where Brewster worked as a communications guy (spinmaster). Despite the fact that he was not an auditor (or perhaps because he wasn't) I found the book to be an excellent analysis of what STILL troubles the Big 4. Mr. Brewster knows of what he speaks-and wrote the book before KPMG was almost "Andersened" in the Summer of 2005. Absent a government concerns warning of further reductions in big accounting firms-It might be the "Big 3" now.

These firms advertise their work as the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval to the public, but the truth is that the public would be shocked to see how little value is added by the outside auditors. A modern organization is simply to complicated and produces to much data to allow anything more than a very limited review of the financial data, focused on areas of greatest risk.

The direct relationship between the auditor and the management inevitably means following professional standards is a an objective subordinated to pleasing the client and meeting the time budget. Large companies aren't paying for anything more than a clean bill of health and partners are somewhere between hairdressers and pimps to a big company. They are of course, well paid for their "services".

An example of what I mean would be the common practice of SALY (Same As Last Year), when the bright-eyed young auditor finds out that the wiley old Controller they think they are smarter than runs rings around them. This usually comes as a surprise to staff, since they've been told they are the "best and brightest" since they were recruited,usually as juniors. Not one wonders if they were the "best and brightest" would they instead have been at Harvard Med School. Ironically, KPMG managers and partners often gave little value to an MBA degree, mostly because they rarely get them.

Unless the error (mistatement) or potential for misstatement is so egregious as to be a great big red flag to the PCAOB, the SEC or a jury, a great deal of the errors are simply written off as I/M (immaterial). A large audit's "workpapers" fills tens or even hundreds of binders and they know screwups will have to be frequent or huge to be spotted.

Untill auditors are hired by, and paid by, the SEC or an organization that provides insurance that the financial statements are "fairly stated", this situation will persist. The American economy spends BILLIONS to support the lavish lifestyles of Big 4 partners and we still have mal- and mis-feasance.

If you want more information about KPMG, read the inspection report issued last year by the PCAOB, or the issues related to audits where KPMG was sued (Fannie Mae, Rite Aid, now Ahold)

I have read Archibald Gracie's account of the sinking and while the tales of his survival and the aftermath are at times very interesting and useful, I feel that they pale in comparison to that of fellow Titanic passenger, Lawrence Beesley, a teacher by profession and a fine writer. Beesely's accounts are so well written and vividly drawn that you feel as if you are on the ship with him before and during the sinking, as well as in the lifeboats and later upon the Carpathia, heading for New York. His account of the entire Titanic tragedy is so complete that nearly 100 years later much of what he has written remains one of the most fact filled testimonies ever recorded. He writes with sensitivity and a gentileness; and he is masterful at describing visually what he and others saw and felt during that fateful night in April, 1912.

But whether you prefer Gracie or Beesely, you can get both in the book "The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors". A great read which offers the writings of other Titanic survivors as well, all in one volume.

Originally published in 1913 as The Truth About the Titanic, Titanic: A Survivor's Story was the first book by an actual Titanic survivor to appear in print. Colonel Archibald Gracie, a military historian who is treated really brutally by James Cameron in his film, was not only a brave man but an indefatigable historian of the disaster. In the months remaining to him after the sinking (Colonel Gracie died in December 1912, possibly of aftereffects from his harrowing escape), Gracie tracked down other survivors and was the first to make an attempt at putting each survivor into the boat he or she escaped from. Written with period charm, this is an important book about the disaster and will dispell any remaining images of Cameron's doofy "Archie."

Two of the most poignant survivor accounts of the Titanic sinking. Mr. Gracie, an elderly man with many social ties to others on the ship and Mr. Thayer, the 17 year old son of a prominent businessman were both first class passengers. Both nearly drowned as the Titanic plunged to the bottom of the Atlantic; but found refuge on the upside down collapsible lifeboat B. Mr. Gracie lost his best friend and Mr. Thayer lost his father. The grief each feels still calls out to us.

The style of each narrative is interesting to compare. Gracie, when describing his own experience or his impressions of the significance of the sinking, uses the flowing purple prose of the late 19th century (his style is more straightforward in his compilations of accounts of other passengers and he has even used their actual statements). Thayer, writing in 1940 about his own experience, is terser; but his reflection that the world seemed calm and his place in it assured before that night is poetic. Archibald Gracie died soon after he wrote his narrative. I'm unsure; but I believe Jack Thayer did not live long after he wrote his story. Since Mr. Thayer's account is not generally available in other sources, and Mr. Gracie was so thorough about who was in (or, in his case, on) each lifeboat, this book will be appreciated by any Titanic buff.

Colonel Archibald Gracie is one of the few people who actually went down with the Titanic and lived to tell about it. First published in 1913, "Titanic" is his detailed account of the last day he spent aboard ship, the evacuation of passengers on the port side of the ship, and of his incredible survival on an overturned lifeboat after being plunged into the frigid ocean when the Titanic finally completely submerged. The first 113 pages of the book are dedicated to Colonel Gracie's firsthand account. In the remaining approximately 200 pages, Col. Gracie has compiled testimony from as many other eyewitnesses as he could find. These firsthand accounts of passengers and crew are taken from the official inquiries in the United States and Great Britain, personal correspondence and interviews with Col. Gracie, and occasionally from firsthand accounts that were published in books and magazines of the day. Taken together, they render a very detailed picture of what went on that fateful night and why more people were not saved. Colonel Gracie died 8 months after the Titanic sank, of illness possibly related to the prolonged exposure to cold that he endured the night the Titanic went down.

This is one of the most comprehensive and precise accounts of the Titanic disaster that you will find. Colonel Gracie is an engaging storyteller. I like his decision to organize the eyewitness accounts by lifeboat. The book also provides some interesting insights into the manners and social attitudes of the time.

Colonel Archibald Gracie was on board the Titanic when it sank. He was one of the lucky men who was able to cling to a capsized boat for survival. He details his account of the crossing, both before and after the iceberg. He mentions many people that he spoke with on the voyage, hoping to bring comfort to any families whose loved ones he encountered. The book seems to have been a form of therapy for the man and also an attempt to help those with questions after the sinking.

The book is written in 1912 language, but it is still very readable and easy to understand. It is really an excellent resource for specific information; Gracie examines each lifeboat individually with passenger's names (except for the 3rd class) and relays incidents from each compiled from testimony from those in each boat. He uses official documents like the court trial transcripts for his book, making it very credible.

Also included is a short account of John Thayer from the 40s. He was only 17 when the ship sank and lost his father of the same name in the tragedy. Thayer was another of the men clinging to the capsized boat that saved Gracie's life. His testimony enforces many of the things said by Gracie.

This is the first book that I have gotten for a class that seriously made me say "Sweet!" I will keep this book and use it as a become a Youth Minister

Great book, each chapter has a similar outline so you are not confused when going to new chapters about where a particular item may be.

Helping the Struggling Adolescent is one of the best resource books on my shelf. While I am sure not everyone will agree with Dr. Parrott's conclusions or methods, this is one of the best books on helping teens through some of the most difficult issues in life. If you are looking for a book that you can pull off your shelf in a crisis to help you get some footing with what to do next, this is the book for you!

Parrott has done an excellent job at giving youth workers and counsellors assistance in helping struggling teens. I can only imagine that newer editions can only improve it!

I have been in youth ministry for nine years and this is the best comprehensive book I have for youth in crisis. It deals with every imaganable problem young people are facing and uses sound biblical, theological and sosiological information on how best to help as a youth pastor or youth leader.
As a matter of fact I don't even know where the text is right now because it is in such high demand from my youth sponsors.
Helping Stuggling Adolescents uses many tools to help the reader get into the mind of the struggling teen. One example is it uses case studies. It also has test that can be used in assessing problem situations.
In my view this is a must buy for any new youth pastor and an important tool in anyone's hand who works with youth in a Christian enviornment.

I will not attempt a thorough review of the book. Here are a couple posts from my blog that I put up as our elder team was going through it:

First post: We are concerned for a greater external focus in our congregation. The chapter we read last pm is entitled: "Earning the Right to be Heard." Whereas many evangelistic texts or theories begin with an evaluation of the target audience, the authors are quite clear that evangelism begins with a change in our hearts. Since this book is focused on being a spiritual influence at work, the emphasis is on the kind of person we are at work. The author(s) note:

"Will rational arguments pacify negative emotions? Will preaching biblical exposition reduce anger or bitterness? Will persuasion penetrate a hard heart? Perhaps, but not as often as you may wish. However, a nonmanipulative relationship with you--where a non-Christian respects you and experiences love and acceptance--can plow thorugh even the hardest soil. The groundwork for this day-to-day ministry in the workplace always starts with the condition of our own hearts--not the hearts of our coworkers."

This chapter emphasizes five areas that require our utmost attention if we are going to build a trusting relationship in which we have the right to be heard:

1. competence: the pursuit of excellence in one's daily work
2. character: even if people hate what we believe, they will be attracted by Christ's character in us
3. consideration: how we treat people--authentic communication (free from gossip and criticism), careful listening that seeks understanding, and a life that exhibits grace
4. communication: wisely speaking the gospel to ready hearts, not ambushing the disinterested. Share your faith when it 1) arises out of relationships naturally built around your work with another person, 2) naturally fits into the topic of conversation, and 3) when you are asked
5. courage: "The desire for safety stands against every great and noble endeavor" (Tacitus)

Easily read, harder to live. Get a copy and read along.

Second post: Last night our elder team completed the fifth chapter in "Going Public with Your Faith" by Peel and Larimore (Zondervan, 2003). The chapter, entitled "Keep it Simple," emphasizes engaging in common courtesy in the work place versus adopting techniques and strategies in order to share one's faith.

The authors point out that scripture commands us "to be a witness," not to engage in "witnessing." The first viewpoint implies the results are up to God (we live the faith), the second that results are up to us (we try to convince others). The text quotes John Fischer (Fearless Faith): "When witnessing is a verb, it becomes something we do or don't do. We turn it on or we turn it off. It becomes a segment of the spiritual compartment of our lives, as in prayer, Bible study, going to church, and witnessing--a very small segment. It's something we are supposed to go out and do, and poor, unsuspecting non-Christians often have to bear the brunt of our spiritual obligation."

I came away with a couple observations: 1) this is a tremendous relief for believers who think they need to engage in a "gospel sharing" conversation in order to be an effective witness; and, 2) this is an incredible call to seamless Christian living at home and work--living that is genuine, deliberate, and committed to demonstrating our faith over the long haul of relationship building.

Here is a list of common courtesies the author's recommend:

-remember an employee's, customer's or client's name--and their spouses too
-remember an employee's, customer's or client's birthday or anniversary
-sincerely listening to the response when you ask someone, "How are you?"
-asking a fellow employee if you can get them something (coffee, etc)
-leaving a larger-than-expected tip for the waitress who regularly serves you
-helping a co-worker fix something at home
-sharing your knowledge with someone who needs it
-going out of your way to express appreciation to others
-asking meaningful questions about things important to others and then really listening to the response

These are small things, but they help build a relationship of trust. God may allow us to share out of that relationship our faith in Him.

If you have a low view of the work environment whereby you place little value or significance on the workplace and on Christians who work there, then you need to grab a copy of Bill Peel's and Walt Larimore's book, _Going Public With Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work_, a.s.a.p. This is the first book on evangelism, which I have read, that focuses specifically on Christians in the workplace. Despite the lack of exposure in this area, my Spidey senses tell me this book contains the stuff that classics are made of.

In their book, _Going Public With Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work_, Peel and Larimore restore a high view of the workplace. I emphasize the word restore, because work always used to occupy a place of importance and eternal significance. After all, long before evangelism was necessary and before the Great Commission was given, God decreed that men and women were to work (Genesis 1.28). Work and the workplace are not curses of the Fall. Not only that, at least 75% of the men and women in the Bible that Christians consider heroes worked in secular vocations (e.g. Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Jesus; Peel and Larimore, 2003, p. 32). If this weren't persuasive enough, there is the explicit teaching of Scripture itself (e.g. Colossians 3.22-5), which ascribes dignity and respect to the workplace as a venue where Christians can do the "Lord's work" and worship God in so doing.

Peel and Larimore explain the primary reason why many Christians hold to a low view of the workplace (cf. 2003, pp. 34-5). The culprit is the sacred-secular split, which originated in Greek philosophy and crystallized later in the heresy of Gnosticism. This dichotomy, which is alive and well in the minds of many Christians today, states that reality is divided into two worlds: God's world and the real world. The former sphere, which is spiritual, includes activities like prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, and evangelism. The latter sphere includes activities like recreation, finances, and work - which are obviously worldly and not spiritual according to the gospel of the sacred-secular split.

In debunking the sacred-secular split, the authors reinforce the importance of Christians in the workplace, referring to the work environment as perhaps the ripest mission field in today's culture (Peel and Larimore, 2003, p. 11). This creates a natural lead-in to the main thrust of their book, which is evangelism in the workplace.

Peel and Larimore emphasize over and over that evangelism is not to be thought of as an event but as a process; evangelism is not so much mechanical as it is organic; evangelism is not so much about witnessing, but about being a witness; non-Christians are not projects, but persons, and so on. As is often the case in the New Testament, evangelism is analogical to a process much like the agricultural time cycle. First, there is the cultivation stage (which is the most time-consuming), then the planting stage, followed by the harvesting and reaping (multiplying) stages.

Peel's and Larimore's book is really written around this biblical perspective to evangelism. Biblical evangelism is not about "cold-contact," or trying to start a fire in the rain. It's not about "selling Jesus" and "closing off the deal." Sadly, many Christians operate this way. Rather, evangelism is a process and the first step is cultivation. Christians must establish and develop trustful relationships with non-Christians. The emotional barriers that many non-Christians have toward Christianity must be removed. In the planting and harvesting stages, the intellectual and volitional needs of the non-Christian respectively are addressed. Finally, the reaping stage of evangelism refers to the discipleship of the new convert. Although Peel and Larimore address all four stages of evangelism, their emphasis is on the cultivation stage since this stage is underrated in most books on evangelism while the harvesting stage receives all the attention (2003, p. 154).

In a very readable style, Peel and Larimore explain how this agricultural model of evangelism is lived out in the work place. For example, they teach the reader how to raise "faith flags" and "faith stories" among colleagues and how to be judicious when doing so. They also warn against certain approaches to evangelism, which are neither wise nor conducive to sharing the gospel naturally. Every so often, the reader is treated to a poignant real-life story illustrating these points.

As a Christian just entering the workforce, I cannot adequately describe what a gift from God this book is. Peel and Larimore have inspired me to take a high view of the workplace to my own work environment and to be conscious of what God is doing in the lives of those around me. True evangelism requires that Christians be involved with non-Christians for the long haul. And what mission field is more conducive to that than the workplace where most Christians spend a large portion of their lives?

If I were to collate a list of Christian books by topic, which have been most helpful to me, _Going Public With Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work_, would be at the top of the evangelism category.

Just finished my first pass and have started through again. The authors know what they are about, having trained many physicians and dentists in ethical and effective methods. This respects the rights of others to refuse, but gives them a chance to listen too. This is not cheap shot evangelism or scalp taking, it's sincere building of friendships and relationships and it's about time somebody wrote this book.

I LOVE this book!!! It should be shared with all Christians! Thank you
for relieving my guilt for not moving my co-workers to "ask me the right
questions." For years I have raised faith flags and told faith stories
but felt guilty that I couldn't seem to get to the gospel presentation
in one-on-one situations - oh, I given the quick overview in groups but
that hasn't borne fruit, that I have seen, anyway! Now I see that I
have been depending on and blaming myself too much. It is in God's
timing, not mine. I have been doing the right things. It is their
decision to ask me more.

This is a very practical and extremely helpful book on being a witness in the workplace. Dr. Larimore is co-author of "The Saline Solution: Sharing Your Faith in Your Practice", a course that has been widely used in the medical profession to help doctors become effective witnesses in their practices.

The authors emphasize the need to focus on being a witness and not on "witnessing", quoting John Fischer in "Fearless Faith": "Salvation is God's thing and is out of our control. Saving people is God's part, ours is being a witness." The book places a healthy emphasis on relational evangelism, because, "We believe that the bubble has burst for an aggressive, non-relational approach to evangelism."

According to the authors, this book is based on four simple, but big, ideas:

1. "Evangelism is a process. The journey of faith takes place over the course of time as a person makes many small, incremental decisions that lead to the big decision of trusting and following Jesus."
2. "Our job in evangelism is to discover where God is already at work in a person's life and to join Him there, not to force a conversation or persuade someone to pray a prayer he or she may not be ready to pray."
3. "Being a person of spiritual influence is every Christian's calling, not just the responsibility of a gifted few."
4. "More so than the inside of a church building or a foreign mission, the workplace is the most strategic place of ministry for most Christians."

This is a very practical and pithy book, in part because the authors give a one-sentence summary at the end of each chapter. It should prove to be of immense help to anyone who is serious about being an effective witness in the workplace. It combines many of the principles in other helpful books and tools, such as "Living Proof", "The Insider" and "Becoming a Contagious Christian" and applies them to the workplace. I can recommend it highly.

I have not seen any comments about Marya Mann, who is one of the anti-depleted uranium crusaders in Hawaii who uses her Phd in dance and something else to make people think that she is some sort of expert in radiation and depleted uranium. She claims to be one of the co-authors of this book and made sure to mention some of the more prominent thinkers like Deeprak Chopra. I wonder what she had to say in it. Any of you know, any of you know Marya?

Roger

this is one of those books that i keep coming back to. there are so many perspectives and ideas, things to consider and realy life ideas to be implimented. i appreciated some chapters more than othes, but htey all seemed to have something to contribute to the way i look at and interact with my world.
somwhow we need shift the momentum on the planet, and i agree with the general consensus in this book that it happens one person at a time. if every person were to read a book like this, i can only imagine the personal and global shifts that we would see. good work!

Here is an opportunity to keep company with the good. By allowing their ideas and Knowledge to work upon us, we become the people the world needs now.

This is a book for everyone who intends to grow to meet the challenge of our present, and future. It is well worth spending our life's time on!

A series of very insightful essays from many perspectives. I found this book very thought provoking. It is a "must read" for all who are concerned about the health of our civilization, our species and our planet.

In this rich and rewarding book which focuses on the how growth inside of ourselves can change the world, I found many practical and brilliant solutions for living a healthy and whole life, while doing good at the same time. It gives, in compact form, the essence of the teaching of many famous authors--and saves you having to read their entire book! It's a book about consciousness in the world on a daily basis. This purposeful compilation of today's planetary leaders inspires one to make a difference in the world by accessing and prioritizing one's essential needs. It shows that far from an either or, personal growth is an essential part of planetary healing, and vice versa. Some of the women voices are brilliant, this is some of their finest work.

Gets right to the point. This book was fantastic!!! Loved the simple truths put forth in this book. If you are looking for the solution this book has it.

I finally found real help I can use. The author shares very painful life experiences and then shares how it is possible to heal and become the confident person you really are deep inside. I enjoyed reading the real life experiences. This book made me feel encouraged and hopeful that I will also be a success story.

I was really able to relate to the author's experiences, very comforting to know that I am not the only one who has had embarassing fears and panic about public speaking. Great book, gave me alot of hope and practical wisdom to use. The author explains how she overcame and then shares how readers can also overcome by identifying key areas in their own lives. If you are truly looking for help, this book is the way to go, it is short and to the point.

This book has given me a great place to start on my personal journey to conquer my fear of public speaking. The author shares her real life experiences which were extremely helpful because I have experienced many of the exact same things. A great starting point for anyone ready to overcome this problem.

First off, let me say that I agree completely with the author in that the root cause of this fear is low self esteem; for that, I give the book some credit (one star). However, the message of this book could have literally been said in a few pages, and that's saying a lot when the book is only 70 pages long. It's obvious that the author is not an expert on this subject and, thus, she has very little to say. The language is also very amateur-ish and there is missing punctuation (and a few typos) throughout the book which I found incredibly distracting. And if this wasn't annoying enough, the author makes reference to bible verses and God throughout. In fact, the bible and the Constitution (yes, you heard right) are here only outside references.

Again, I agree with the main message, but it's difficult for me to look beyond the book's many shortcomings.