Practice Management Books

Nolo's Legal Guide to Starting and Running a Small Business was exactly what I needed to help start my company off on the right foot. I don't have a very strong legal backround and would have been way over my head if I'd tried to forge ahead totally alone but at the same time I didn't want to spend a fortune consulting a lawyer. If you're in a similar situation then Nolo's Legal Guide is the perfect solution. It is well written, well organized, thorough, and very easy to use. It's a great general start-up kit that would be helpful to any fledgling business that I can think of. If I had had to call a lawyer to answer every legal question that arose in the first couple of months (a huge number) then my company may easily have never gotten off the ground. I was so pleased with this product that I have since purchased two more Nolo books (Tax Savvy for Small Business and The Employer's Legal Handbook) that are more directed at business owners who have gotten through the initial start-up phase. Both of these books are also excellent and I would recommend them as follow ups to the Legal Guide to Starting and Running a Small Business.

There are several books in the market on how to incorporate your company based on the state. Even though there is an advantage to these books as you get state specific information for filing paperwork to incorporate, usually there isn't any other information in these books that you can use.

This Nolo guide on the other hand stays kind of generic in the sense that they don't spend too much time in how to fill out the incorporation forms and where to file. Instead, they give good information on every subject you would need to research when starting a small business.

The book starts off by explaining the different legal forms of corporate entities you can choose for your business and details each of these forms in the next three chapters. After this, there are more than 20 chapters devoted to almost any kind of situation you may encounter. For example - there is a chapter on Resolving Legal Disputes, a chapter on Small Business Contracts, a chapter on Home Based Business, etc. Some of the topics I had no prior knowledge of and gained tremendously from - Retail Pricing and Return Practices, Zoning Laws, Deducting Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, Workers' Compensation, Thirteen Common Sources of Money, and Strong and Weak Trademarks.

This is a good book to read when you are STARTING your own business. After that, you will probably need to research more into the topics that are relevant to your situation. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many different legal guides that small businesses can use (from Nolo). Obviously, as your particular situation becomes more unique you need to refer to the specific books that have an advanced treatment of that topic. And finally, it is always better to seek a lawyer's help after being aware of the basics of the Law.

As usual, Nolo does a fantastic job of covering a broad range of topics in a very detailed fashion without losing the reader's attention. There are a lot of examples to explain the various topics and everything is in plain English. I especially like the references to the IRS forms and publications you need in various circumstances. When you go to the IRS website, it isn't clear which form is relevant to you. It's neat that Nolo makes sure to reference the right form when they are discussing a particular subject.

I hope your small business succeeds and that you find this book helpful in getting things started. Be sure to check out the other Nolo books when you are past the initial stages and definitely build a good working relationship with a trustworthy lawyer for times of need. Good luck!

This set me straight on a few things while setting up my business. It is well written and easy to understand. I would recommend this to any 1st time business owner starting out.

Full of the information you expect based upon the title of the book. The information is detailed so you have the guidance you sought.

This book is like an encyclopedia of small business. I'll definitely be returning to this book throughout the years.

Being in debt is a lonely place to be, and I finally found a simple step forward to a permanent solution, this book. There is a short one small page topic for each day. This keeps me in the solution of becoming financially solvent, each day. The topics are simple and reaffirming, along with suggestions that most people perhaps do without thinking, but for those that have gotten into debt, the topics are the ladder out of our problem. Previously I bought "How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt & Live Prosperously" by Jerrold Mundis but this did not change my spending behavior even though I read it cover to cover.

This book has become part of my morning ritual. I read the meditation for the day each morning. It helps me to quit debting one day at a time. I've made some real strides in my debting behavior and this book helps keep me on track. A must read for anyone struggling with debt. It'll make you feel better and give you the strength and hope to make it one more day without debting.

The road out of the land of debt can be a lonely one. You feel shame and guilt over your debts, not to mention fear and anxiety.
And you feel alone with your "secret." How can you hope to find your way out of this desolate place?

This pocket-sized daily guide can help. Karen Casanova's book contains dated, daily meditations which also offer practical suggestions for reducing your debt and your stress.

This one is not a complicated "money-management" book. Rather, it is a combination of spiritual/self-help manual that you can carry with you for daily shots of inspiration.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by debt, it seems to me that this book will be helpful to you.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud

Daily meditations for those who swim through a stormy sea of debt encircled by sharks. The stress of debt is as fierce as any other addiction, affecting us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and even causing other addictive behaviors, all of which affects our relationships. In fact, we get so stressed about our debt that, for relief, we spend more. Debt is acquired a day at a time. Likewise, debt reduction and financial solvency are accomplished and maintained a day at a time. These meditations are a welcome adjunct to financial recovery programs or books.

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/06)

Debbie Lessin, a CPA, entrepreneur, speaker and author, presents 66 resourceful ideas for managing and coping with life challenges. Although the book is small, it is powerful and realistic, yet fun and entertaining. Each page gives the reader a new idea or an opportunity to remember an act that can be followed through to attain balance in life.

For example, on the page for "Expand Your Horizons" Lessin suggests to: ride a motorcycle, train for a marathon, cycle the trail. In "Arrange a Girl's Night Out" she suggests: Laughing, sharing and telling the stories of sisterhood. Lessin suggests in "Just Say No!" to: remind yourself often that you don't have to be a super-woman or super-mom.

Illustrations by Janet Jaffke are amusing and reflective at the same time. In the back of this little treasure Lessin provides an epilogue with items like: things to remember about balance, beat the clock activities, and, free or less than $20 activities. She also provides space for your balance inventory and balance wish list. In the end, Lessin reminds us that "there is no such thing as perfect balance!" We are encouraged to have fun, explore the mystery of life, and move on.

Debbie Lessin's "Life is a Balancing Act" is a perfect little gift book for any woman - mother, sister, grandmother, friend, yourself. Her words of wisdom touch aspects of everyday life and give us the encouragement to strive for balance in our lives. This is not a book to taken lightly, but to delve into and reflect on the quality of life we deserve and manifest. Recommended!

I really enjoyed reading all of its philosophy of life. It is not the first book of its' type to be published however, for whatever reason, it got my thought processes churning. Perhaps due to my age, my time of life or just by it's
contents, it caused me to do some mental research on my past and future life.

Like so many people, my life has been consumed with trying to do the best possible job for my employers and the people who worked for me and trying to provide the best standard of living for my family. I don't think this was done to the exclusion of my family responsibilities but, at times, and maybe too many times, it certainly impacted them. As I reflected on the ideas in the book, I realized that it is probable my goals could have been accomplished with a better focus on the things in life that are really most important.

My major complaint is that the book wasn't published fifty years ago so that I and the rest of the world may have benefited sooner!

This book is wonderful. I found that it gives me insights into things that I knew the answers to but was refusing to put them into motion. This book let me know that it's ok. Learning how to balance your personal and professional lives is a very difficult thing, "Life is a Balancing Act" helped show me that it doesn't have to be as difficult as we make it.

I truly enjoyed it.

Balance is the key to all our lives. Without Balance, we may become burned out, dysfuntional, or just stress out our friends and family. Therefore this book really can help with it's bottom line solutions. Being a small business man, I loved this book because Ms. Lessin has very specific actions to take which definitely will add Balance and reduce stress in your life. My favorite thing in the book is the suggestion to stay home on a Saturday night. My wife and I love doing this and it really helps keep the rushing around at bay.
The book is creatively illustrated and it makes for a very comfortable and enjoyable read. I think it should be on the Best Sellers List because it's full of real and very good ideas and wont take a year and a day to read. It really makes you see that life is too short not to have Balance. I love Ms. Lessin's introduction too.

I just received this book from Amazon, and read voraciously for several chapters until it became too frightening, and I had to put it down.

You see, I, too was an outsider and victim of a conspiracy in Bangor,Maine, and as I was reading, would have seen what was coming, even if I didn't already know.

(I won't belittle Amazon with a link, but you may Google Bangor, Maine scam to find the Outsiderr222 blog.)

Don't think that things are getting better. Bangor has generations to go before the people see the light and put a stop to their manipulation by power brokers.

Even 25 years later, Maine still has the highest tax burden and one of the lowest per capita incomes in the country. Things seem to be upside down in northern Maine. (Southern Maine is farther ahead, but Augusta is not in southern Maine).

Drugs, booze, and xenophobia are rampant, and some areas are still controlled by kingpins who can best be likened to Jabba the Hut. Maine's Attorney General is selected by secret ballot by the legislature. (The only state in the USA that does this. He cannot be voted out).

In places like Bangor, Maine, an outsider will never win.

If you think that these small town scams are only limited to places like the Ozarks and could never happen in New England, just read Dr Greenwald's book. (And my blog)

Maine's a beautiful place. But be VERY careful there.

This book is a must read for any doctor, or American. The Government is not always on our side. The things Dr. Greenwald went through are a real eyeopener to sham peer review, and how real conspiracies occur right under our noses.

I couldn't put this book down once I started to discover the facts. It is truly amazing reading. You won't be sorry...

Mark K.
Philadelphia

this book is a real eye opener as to how people can abuse their power to burry the little guy. it is simply amazing!!!!

Maybe when this book was written (in the late 1970s) people didn't distinguish management from leadership. I read this book as part of a class on Christian leadership, and though this is recognized as a classic, it was not as good as several other books in that regard.

If you're looking at leadership from a Christian perspective you might consider: Transforming Leadership: Jesus' Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change, and Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness 25th Anniversary Edition.

However, if you are really interested in developing management skills for use in a Christian organizational context, this might yet be a good book for you. Just remember, this book is a bit dated in some of it's workplace references....

I digested this book. It was required readig for my Church Administration class in Seminary. It was a good read then and now I use it as the textbook in my Church Administration Basic class. Ted W. Engstrom does a great job of giving the basics on Christian Leadership. He leaves no stone unturned. I find the student has everything he/she needs to understand christian leadership for such a time as now. There is a careful balance between the secular world of management and bible based principles of leadership. The end product is fantastic!

Engstrom has written an excellent book on a topic not many have able to accomplish: how to integrate the Bible with secular theory.

Among the important points Engstrom makes include:

1. What biblical leadership is and is not.
2. A true leader must not be driven for the thirst for power.
3. A mark of maturity is the ability to handle conflict.
4. Suggestions on how to improve your attitude and those who follow you.
5. For a leader to excel, he must find other interests outside his job (family, friends, hobbies, etc.).
6. A leader will be effective when he adopts goal-setting and planning as a personal style of life.
7. Using creative problem-solving.
8. A Christian leader must point others to Christ instead of himself.

Read and be encouraged and challenged to become a better leader!

This is a priceless overview of leadership styles, strategies and personality traits. Its real-life examples make it an effective teaching tool for leadership development. Engstrom clearly presents Biblical strategies for improving management and human relations. Every Christian leader should have this book on the shelf.

The book is still the most comprehensive resource on Managed Care. Covers all its elements and increased my understanding of why managed care worked in the past to its extent and the challenges it faces. Helpful for professionals and policy makers in this field.

Thoughtfully edited and written by the nation's leading managed care experts, the Managed Health Care Handbook is an excellent, highly practical reference on every key aspect of American managed health care. Highly recommended to practitioners, consultants, and students wishing a thorough, up-to-date, and objective understanding of managed care strategy and operations.

This book, in its latest edition, continues to be the most complete resource for all who work in or who are associated with the managed health care industry. It can be used by the novice as an introduction to the vary complex nature of managed health care, or it can be used by the more experienced managed health care warrior as a reference book when one needs a refresher on a particular aspect of managed health care operations.

I am a consultant working with health plans, providers, employers and regulators, and The Managed Health Care Handbook never fails to provide me with the information I need to be successful.

This book is a definite must-have for the new and experienced Managed Care Professional. I found the chapters on compensation and reimbursement to most helpful. The author has successfully captured every element of managed care including, but not limited to, employer groups, networks, reimbursement, and quality.

Very easy and fun reading. Hits all the right points that relate to project management. Examples are good, lots of creative ideas that I wasn't aware of and good reference to other books and material.

I would have liked to see more content on systems thinking and how they are applied in real life. Other than that, it is very un-common for me to read a book end to end. I enjoyed - and learned.

This is a excellent overview for General Management, Stakeholders, PMs and PM Team Members to used not only as an overview of Project Management, but as an advance guidance in the planning, scheduling and controlling methodology. Mr. Lewis's approach to Systems Thinking vice the linear thinking is well addressed. The Chapter on Managing Quality in Projects is excellent and stresses planning, customer needs, rework, and cost should be reviewed at all levels of the Enterprise from General Management to individuals striving to complete a project. I will place this book next to my copy his book, "The Project Manager's Desk Reference."

I found this bookto be a very useful source of information associated with Project Managment. Lewis's ideas associated with Innovation in projects is very helpful in the R+D project world.

I found this to be a good high level view of the PM discipline, its concepts, and processes. The section on Risk Management provided a good overview. All chapters are "overview" level, but the book has a good reference section for further reading. I'd refer readers to Lewis' The Project Managers Desk Reference" for more detailed reading. I do find I refer to this book and am glad I added it to my library.

Used in a Masters level Cybernetics of Cybernetics system thinking class. Of all the textbooks out there for such complex theories this is an easy read. I high reccomend!

A well crafted tome. Guterman's book Mastering the Art of Solution-Focused Counseling is an important resource for helping counselors learn the theory and practice of this innovative approach. The book includes both complex theoretical underpinnings and practical clinical guidelines. I strongly recommend this book for clinicians interested in working from a solution-focused perspective. The only quibble I have about this book is that I was left wanting a bit more. But this seems appropriate given the minimalist approach set forth in solution-focused counseling and the "less is better" philosophy that Guterman advocates.

I found this book to be extremely helpful and useful. It really addresses the art of solution focused work and is a must read for counselors and therapists at all levels of experience.

First, let me admit something. The author is my husband. So, it is hard, even nearly impossible for me to be objective in my review of this book. Despite this, I still think the book has merit. It is easy to read and very entertaining. I think it describes the ideas of solution-focused counseling in a clear and straightforward way. There are many case examples and Jeffrey writes with a unique style. So, I suggest counselors go ahead and buy this book and read it.

I have found this book to be quite informational on different aspects that will be covered on the certification exam. I continue to use it as in my studies and as a reference.

This is the best product I have ever used. It is excellent to have a guide that gives you rationale for an answer.

Medical Coding Specialist's Exam Review Hospital is a wealth of information for anyone planning on taking either one of the hospital exams. It contains challenging coding activities and explanations to the answers. It also has mock exams that really get you thinking! The book also pinpoints the importance of preparing for the exam, test taking tips, and what happens after the exam. A great book!!

Sylvia Gonzalez CCS, CCS-P

This is a MUST have book if you are studying for the CCS or the CPC-H test. It is clear and to the point, and easy to understand. Each Chapter has invaluable information that you need to know for the tests, and then it is followed by a quiz and then the answers after that. There is a CD that is included that is VERY helpful, because it has mock tests for both the CCS and CPC-H. After finishing the test then it is automatically scored so you know how well you did and what you need to study more.

Rita Montierth CCS-P, CPC-H

If you are a medical coder and looking for a great anatomical reference book specific by CPT code, this book is great! I have many anatomy books, but this one offers specific anatomical illustrations by CPT code.

I am retired, a hospital volunteer, and am doing home self-study for Medical Coding using the Carol J. Buck Step-by-Step Medical Coding study series of books. I was an electrical engineer before I retired and do not have a medical background. I feel that Medical Coding is an exciting new field to get into as a second career.

I found that 'Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT Coding' is outstanding for my self-study of Medical Coding, especially for better understanding the CPT codes. However, I would recommend a full terminology index be added, possibly as an enclosed CD, which links "all" the anatomic structures found in the illustrations to the page numbers and CPT codes, in order to assist new students, like myself, to medical coding and other medical fields of study. This would apply to students taking Medical Coding remotely via the Internet, in formal classrooms, or for home self-study, such as myself. Netter's does include a very fine Subject Index but I would like a far more detailed index containing "all" the anatomic codes used in the Netter's illustrations. This would make the book a full anatomy text book with or without CPT users.

The illustrations in Netter's are outstanding in their color and detailed anatomic terms. The page layouts are also outstanding with clear CPT coding description sections accompanying each medical anatomic illustration. The medical and surgical descriptions and related CPT codes are grouped under major headings, such as Anesthesia and Surgery codes, and those sections are subdivided by such code areas as Incisions, Excisions, Endoscopes, Introductions, Repairs, Manipulations, and others.

Netter's includes Radiographs and CT Images that are extremely helpful in providing a better understanding of medical related human anatomy using actual human images to supplement the detailed color illustrations. 'Nomenclature Notes' are added, where needed, to more fully explain certain medical terms.

The main purpose of Netter's is to relate the CPT codes to where they apply to the anatomic area of the human body. The book does an excellent job of this. For example, when I am studying a new section of Buck's Step-by-Step medical coding and using the CPT manual, 'Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT Coding,' allows me to take the CPT codes I am studying, go to Netter's CPT Code Index, find the page number for the illustration, go to the page, and find not only the area of the human body the CPT codes apply to, but also the summary of CPT codes for that area of the body, groped under the heading of Anesthesia and Surgery and all the included subheadings of related CPT codes.

I highly recommend 'Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT Coding' to anyone studying anything related to human anatomy, but especially those studying or using CPT codes for Medical Coding and/or Billing.

I'm training as a coder right now and they have this book where I'm doing my clinical. It's more detailed than the book I have from my anatomy class and has been such a big help that I'm ordering a copy for myself.

This workbook is great for use with students preparing for their certification exam. The exercises help them put practical application to the book learning.