People Books

Let's face it. Most sales people we come in contact with drone on about what they think is gonna make you buy. Wahburn and Wallace have revealed profound conclusions of what customers want to hear, based on hundreds of research questionaires conducted with customers of highly successful companies. I've been in sales for 17 years and I gave up on reading sales books because they were not helpful. This one is different. It immediately helped me improve my presentation that I've been giving for the last 11 years. I thought it was as good as it was gonna get. Wrong. I'm making more money and saying what customers want to hear. Even better, more customers are saying what I want to hear. Buy the book. You won't regret it.

I have heard of different personality types for years, how to pick them out and what to do after you know their type, but it was always so complicated. The authors make it VERY easy to pick out the personality type, then they tell you what to do with the information. They give excellent examples from their own work with clients over the years.

This is not one of those books that is just an advertisement for their consulting or their seminars. Each of the three personality types is clearly described. A simple trick is given to remember how to pick each personality type. Then many real life examples of how to sell to that presonality type. All the authors have left for you is to modify the examples to the products you are selling, modify the presentation you already use so that it targets the three personality types in 4 or 5 areas and you will be selling in a way your client likes to buy.

What if you are doing group sales with a mixture of personality types in the same room? It is covered in this book.

This book is too good and too cheap not to get and read. The contents are too easy to not put into practice.

I am a CPA and Harvard MBA and have sold sophisticated tax shelters on a commission basis for years. This is one of the finest books on salesmanship I have ever read.

It is grounded in excellent theory, yet it presents the information in a simple manner that is easy to understand AND easy to implement.

The book focuses on two areas:

1) Know where your customer is in the buying cycle. a)Is he committed to do something yet, or not. b)Is this a repeat of a prior purchase or not? c)Is he evaluating alternatives? d)From whom will he buy the product or service selected? e)Is the price right?

2) Different personality types buy in different manners. The book describes three types. a)Commander (take-charge, action-oriented leaders) b)Thinker (logical, analyze details, and like knowing the answers), and c) Visualizer (practical, intuitive, see things as they are).

A buyer is interested in certain information at each STAGE in the buying cycle. Additionally, each personality prefers to receive their information in a different manner. By recognizing the buying stage and the personality of the buyer you are trying to persuade, you can choose the most compelling arguments to make every time. This will avoid 90% of the turn-downs other salespeople get when trying to close a sale.

I have read other books classifying personalities into 9 or 16 types. Other authors define 8 or 11 stages of a sale. By using 5 stages in their DREAM sales cycle, and 3 personality types, I think Washburn and Wallace have done salespeople a GREAT service. These categories are well defined, easy to identify, and easily utilized to increase sales with their strategies.

Readers looking for more advanced strategies in these areas can try Kerry Johnson's "Sales Magic" and "Selling the Way Your Customer Buys" by Marvin Sadovsky and Jon Caswell. However, I feel Washburn & Wallace's "Why People Don't Buy Things" has the ideal mix of quality content which works, is easily digested, and implementable. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Great book on why we sometimes let the big one slip away. Full of ideas and case studies to help anyone selling anything to better position their product/services and ultimately sell more.

I refer to this book on a regular basis to train my sales force. It reinforces what we have been working on for several years AND the results are there. Great job Harry and Kim.

Searching for wisdom today usually brings to mind countless books on how to get ahead, or rich, or thin, or powerful. Schlegel has not written a how-to book for modern success, but the story of his own discernment of the difference between wisdom and knowledge.

Although Schlegel went to the Philipine island of Mendanao for an intellectual purpose, a study to complete his doctoral dissertation on the Teduray tribe, he found himself impressed with a style of life and social interaction that most westerners would call primitive. Schlegel saw not only the value and benefit of the Teduray lifestyle, he found his own life influenced by these people in positive ways.

The tribe is now extiinct, wiped out as the result of political conflict, but the wisdom of its ways has not been lost, it lives on in Schlegel's depiction in this book, providing wisdom to those who search for it in unpredictable places.

The people you will meet in this book are cooperative, peaceful, egalitarian, and truly democratic. They also live in harmony with the earth. There have been many books about tribal people, gathering- hunting societies, like the Bambuti of the Congo rain forest, the Kung Bushmen, the Inuit, Native Americans. Most of these people have values similar to those of the Forest Teduray. Gathering - hunting societies have to be cooperative because its the only way they can survive. There are no hierarchies for the same reason, and women are always at least equal to men because in most such economies they provide 70- 80% of the food Nevertheless the Forest Teduray are a special kind of people for a number of reasons. They are semi agricultural, and they live in villages rather than small bands, and these villages are connected to each other in a very loose, unstructured federation. And yet they have not only maintained the basic core values of traditional gatherer- hunting peoples, but have developed and refined them into a way of life that not only works perfectly for them, but actually seems possible for our own society. It is a bit of a stretch, I admit, and the historical record is hardly encouraging. It does appear that nation states must always develop male dominated hierarchical and violent, aggressive societies. Buit there is no compelling reason to believe that this is necessary. The Teduray think it is "no way to live" . Just imagine living in a Teduray world: a global human society living in harmony with everyone else, and with the planet. As difficult as it will surely be to get there, it's got to be worth trying. I never saw a better manual for how to live this way than Wisdom from a Rain Forest. The Teduray really know how to live, and they know how to talk about it. I think the world needs this book, and I wish everyone would read it. There are always many books on the best seller lists about how to fix your own personal inner life, to provide soup for your soul or something. But maybe we can't do any of that by ourselves. Maybe we need to work together to build a healthy society. A way to live the Teduray would call "just right". Many times you may hear people say "this book changed my life". I have always believed this is not really possible, that no book can ever really do that. This book changed my life.

The people you will meet in this book are cooperative, peaceful, egalitarian, and truly democratic. They also live in harmony with the earth. There have been many books about tribal people, gathering- hunting societies, like the Bambuti of the Congo rain forest, the Kung Bushmen, the Inuit, Native Americans. Most of these people have values similar to those of the Forest Teduray. Gathering - hunting societies have to be cooperative because its the only way they can survive. There are no hierarchies for the same reason, and women are always at least equal to men because in most such economies they provide 70- 80% of the food Nevertheless the Forest Teduray are a special kind of people for a number of reasons. They are semi agricultural, and they live in villages rather than small bands, and these villages are connected to each other in a very loose, unstructured federation. And yet they have not only maintained the basic core values of traditional gatherer- hunting peoples, but have developed and refined them into a way of life that not only works perfectly for them, but actually seems possible for our own society. It is a bit of a stretch, I admit, and the historical record is hardly encouraging. It does appear that nation states must always develop male dominated hierarchical and violent, aggressive societies. But there is no compelling reason to believe that this is necessary. The Teduray think it is "no way to live". Just imagine living in a Teduray world: a global human society living in harmony with everyone else, and with the planet. As difficult as it will surely be to get there, it's got to be worth trying. I never saw a better manual for how to live this way than Wisdom from a Rain Forest. The Teduray really know how to live, and they know how to talk about it. I think the world needs this book, and I wish everyone would read it. There are always many books on the best seller lists about how to fix your own personal inner life, to provide soup for your soul or something. But maybe we can't do any of that by ourselves. Maybe we need to work together to build a healthy society. A way to live the Teduray would call "just right". Many times you may hear people say "this book changed my life". I have always believed this is not really possible, that no book can ever really do that. This book changed my life.

This is a very good, readable book. It depicts a culture in which helping others was the normal--not the charitable--thing to do. The mindset of the Teduray people of the Philippine rainforest, with whom the author Stuart Schlegel lived for years, is a world view that, sadly, seems almost unbelievable for people who are indoctrinated into a capitalistic system. It's like a splash of cold water in the face. Wouldn't it be nice for every Anthropology 101 student in the U.S. to experience this book, if for no other reason at all simply to face the fact that there are human mindsets possible that are not ruled by money, greed, scarcity, and conspicuous consumption?

I believe that it is always beneficial to step outside our own culture for a while, to see how others live and how we can learn from them.

Especially when the culture we are observing is one as beautiful as the Teduray. They, like so many indigenous people, lived their lives with the well-being of the community as their focus. This is in sharp contrast to the lonely and individualistic lives of so many Americans.

The people of the Teduray village in which Dr Schlegel lived were all massacred years ago. We find this out in the beginning of the book. It was heartbreaking for him, as he lets us know. Then, as you go on to read the book, learning about his two years with the Teduray, you get to know the people - their names, personalities, lifestyles - you come to care about them. I found that knowing they had all been killed led me to place greater importance on learning from them. The temporary nature of their lives gave permanence to the wisdom they imparted.

They lived beautifully, communally, with great compassion. I felt humbled, and grateful to have read their story and learned from them.

I highly recommend this book. It is lovely, heart-centered, and written by a clearly beautiful man.

And if you like this book, you probably will also like The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff. I learned many of my better parenting skills from this book - another study of living within an indigenous community.

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I am not a teenager anymore but I still loved it. I could relate. I read it in one evening and wished that there was book 2 to read. Please keep writing these great, funny books.

Finally! My 3rd-grade daughter used to dread reading, and the first book "Matt the Brat" got her hooked! This is the first time she has wished that there were more books in a series. Carol Weston, please write more!!

I LOVED this book. it was great. all of the Melanie Martin books are great. In this one she goes with her parents to Spain. her dad has business in Spain to do so her mom used frequent flyer miles to have the whole family go with him. In Spain Melanie's mom meets up with her old boyfriend Antonio. When there. melanie falls for Antonio's son Miguel. In this book many adventures come in with love between Melanie and Miguel. Also surprisling Matt the Brat helps out to keep Melanie and Miguel alone or gives Melanie tips, like when Miguel's cousin comes and Melanie thought it was Miguel's girlfriend. This book was great and I'd recommend it for all ahges.

I bought this book from amazon.com and read it the day it came. It's so sweet to see Melanie in love! Stocked with bullfights, fireworks and of course, ROMANCE, this book rocks! It's almost like being in Europe yourself! This book is a must-read!

The Martin family band together for a two-week Spring break vacation as seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Melanie. Readers join Melanie through the pain and confusion of first love as she fills her senses with the compelling Spanish landscape. This is an amusing linguistic travel adventure written in diary format. Because the author phonetically spells the Spanish words Melanie learns, I found myself saying some of the words aloud and learning quite a few things along the way. An appendix of all the foreign words Ms. Weston used would have been an added benefit to the book. With Love From Spain, Melanie Martin will make you want to take your kids on a European adventure of your own, no matter where you live in the world! The potential for this book is it's "that's me" value for Tweeners making the transition beyond being big kids.

Good read for anyone that wants to see what can keep a marriage together for a few decades. Also, great perspective on why they are both of historical significance and should be more praised as icons.

I love Ossie and Ruby. Their story is inspirational. They are true survivors. I loved hearing them tell their story in their own words. It was funny, touching and at times heart wrenching what they went through. They are true icons of not only African American history, but American history.

I am so glad I read Ruby Dee's biography on the internet or I would have never known that she and her (late) husband, Ossie Davis, had written memoirs together, recounting their 50(+) year relationship. This book is a combination of genuinely warm and humorous passages, as well as insightful, deeply profound and moving chapters. They literally have a dialogue together, at some points of the book, even gently (and not so gently) correcting each other on stories and minute details that the other omitted.

Not only is this book wonderful from an historic point of view (it delves into the Civil Rights Movement and Dee's and Davis' role in that, as well as their experiences with racism, discrimination and the struggle to succeed in their craft, as actors of color--particularly African-American actors), but we also get a sense of how these two great individuals came to be the amazing actors/writers/producers/directors that we know today. While Dee always knew she was going to be on stage, Davis was initially going to become a playwright (though, fate had different plans). Together, they had children, grandchildren, and multitudes of life adventures (with plenty of bumps and u-turns along the way). Some may be surprised (and shocked) by the fact that Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis had an open marriage, when their jobs took them on the road and away from each other. Surprisingly, this brought them closer together. This was unexpected, to me, and it was intriguing to read their take on that (controversial) marriage choice that they made mutually.

I really reccomend this book, and I think more people should know about it. These people are legends in their craft, and they are not only wonderful actors, but very talented writers. I look forward to reading Ruby Dee's "My One Good Nerve" from which she adapted a touring show by the same name, in 1996.

I just had the pleasure of reading this marvelous book. This book is done with class and shows celebrities do not have to write memoirs that are full of trash. I have always loved Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. I have always said people who have been married for many years usually have had many ups and downs in their relationships. It just goes to show if you have faith and are not willing to give up easily you can have a relationship of longevity and is an inspiration to others. An excellent book. They may have made mistakes but in the end they are truly role models. My heart and prayers go out to Ruby Dee in the loss of her lover, friend and colleauge Ossie Davies. Ossie Davis and Ruby together were a class act and they have written a celebrity memoir with class.

Legendary husband and wife actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee tell, with much seriousness, whimsy and candor, their respective humble beginnings, their ultimate meeting and romance in the theater, and the struggles they faced as actors, as well as African-Americans in a time of civil and political change. Though they both sought success on the stage and screen, they were also influential in achieving rights for actors, as well as African-American during the Civil Rights Movement.

The pair mingled with the powerful on the Broadway stage (Howard da Silva, Lorraine Hansbury, etc.), rising stars of the movies (Sidney Poitier, Marlon Brando, John Cassavettes, Richard Widmark, to cite a few), and political powerhouses like Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Never afraid to voice their political views, the pair even became "persons of interest" during the Communist "witch hunts" of the fifties.

Davis and Dee also reveal interesting tidbits about their married life. Speaking of their "open marriage" is quite a surprise but as one reads on, it is discovered that "infidelity" was not something that was not the norm, just an understanding that should something occur outside the bonds of marriage, it would be honestly admitted.

The book's format allows each of the actors to reveal his/her take on common events in their lives. Both come across as truly unique yet complimentary and complementary of the other.

An informative appendix at the book's end provides the reader with all the theatrical, television, and stage productions, along with audio performances, made by them individually or together. Of course, it is incomplete, considering that that book was published six years ago, and both have had additional performances to add to their lengthy career.

Even though Ossie has since passed on, this reminiscence is a fitting tribute to him, as well as homage to both their marriage and their talents as thespians.

Our neighborhood connects through a book club and email list. I will be hosting the neighborhood book group in September and anticipate that THE WORLD BEFORE HER will be the perfect book for this gathering. It is about women, love, relationships, money, family. It also is of course about wonderful Venice. If you read EAT,PRAY,LOVE--which I enjoyed but found deeply unfair in its description of Venice as a depressing, gray place that is sinking and dying--check out the mysterious and glorious Venice of Weisgall's book and fall in love again. I can't wait to have our discussion with my literary neighbors about THE WORLD BEFORE HER.

Deborah Weisgall is a genius who is as deft with her prose as she is with her historical/cultural knowledge. Here is a novel at once contemporary and relevant and yet as classic as Middlemarch. The book's sophisticated, nuanced, operatic language and characters manage to carry enough emotional depth and charge to make it a delicious page-turner in addition to a literary gem.

I found myself pausing between chapters just to make this book last longer. While the George Eliot chapters were, to my mind, slightly more successful than the chapters set in the 1980s, this is on the whole a beautifully-written, evocative book with three fully fleshed-out characters: George Eliot, Caroline Springold, and the city of Venice. I have already given it as a gift to several friends, all of whom have raved.

This is a great read, especially for women or men who want to read a thoughtful novel about women. Very well written and easy to read.

Debra Weisgall has managed to connect present and past in surprising ways, giving us both a great literary figure (George Eliot) who looks back with longing on her great love, and a near-contemporary artist who is struggling against the reins of a controlling husband who gives her everything but real love. One woman springs free, the other can't, but we care about both, all while imbibing the great beauty of Venice, where the stories play out. Absolutely compelling and a natural for book group discussion.

There couldn't be two more different places than New York City and the lands of the Maasai in Tanzania. Tepilit Ole Saitoti's story of his journey in and between these two worlds is fascinating. I am looking forward to the update he is writing now that he is a Maasai Elder. This insight into another land and culture is a gift.

Excellent book, very accurate and really worth the money. It gives the picture of a boy growing up as a real Maasai and the new life in civilized world of Germany and USA - a man between two cultures and the difficult question to decide which way to go along. Makes yourself wondering about the way we Western people are living and gives a chance to see our world with other eyers.

After having visited the Maasai area some months ago a good opportunity to compare facts with my own experience and found it even more interesting. Go for it!

I read this book 12 years ago and was so moved that I wrote a letter to to the author - something I have never done before or since. I was so struck by his ability to navigate between two cultures that seemingly had little in common. His book is a testimonial to the flexibility of the human spirit and the power of education. Last week, out of the blue, I received a telephone call from the author. Apparently, he had saved my address all these years. Saitoti is currently in the US as a visiting scholar. He will be speaking in various institutions and he has just started writing a follow up to The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior (The Worlds of a Maasai Elder). I have just shown him these amazon reviews. He is sitting here beside me and
would like to take this opportunity to say: "Thank you to the reviewers of my book for such beautiful reviews and to amazon.com for posting such a wonderful display of my work."

Very interesting first person account of a Maasai man who becomes western educationed and gives insight to what growing up in a Maasai village was like. Quick read - powerful story. You must read this book if you plan on going to Kenya or Tanzania.

After having just visited Africa, I wanted to get a better feel for what it's really like to be Maasai. This book is very real, and gives interesting insights from the "inside". I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Working as a fitness model can be an enjoyable and profitable career. However, there are many pitfalls and dangers to avoid on this path, and for the first time someone who not only works, but has had tremendous success in this field is available to guide you. From creating your first portfolio, to the details of endorsement contracts, fitness model extraordinaire Clark Bartram will advise you, drawing on years of experience. You'll read about the great satisfaction such a career can bring, but perhaps more importantly you'll be told the truth about the reality of being a fitness model. This includes not only what attributes you'll need to succeed, but also your attitude, and how much money you can honestly expect to earn per shoot. In any field, links with people on the 'inside' are often what's needed to get that big break, and there's plenty of insiders in this book sharing their knowledge with you.

It's not only great man-to-man advice in this book though. The beautiful, and very successful Monica Brant offers advice from a woman's perspective, which is of use to both male and female readers. Also, the people behind the cameras talk about what they look for in a model in the 'Lessons From The Other Side' section. All invaluable knowledge. The structure of the text is such that you can read from cover to cover, but also go straight to a particular topic and still have all the information you need.

In short, if you're serious about a career as a fitness model, or just curious about what such a job would involve, then you cannot afford to pass up on this book. Agencies, self-promotion, tricks of the trade, training programs, possible employers, useful resources and even haircuts are all covered. I've found this book an exceptional resource, and my thanks to Clark Bartram for writing it.

This total insider's guide to the fitness modeling industry offers valuable information in a conversational manner, lets you know who's looking for the next fitness superstars, AND tells you exactly how to contact them.

Clark Bartram's own accounts of his success are honest, candid, and loaded with advice and encouragement for aspiring fitness models - guys and girls. You really feel like he's opening up and telling you everything you need to know. Plus, a lot of his influential friends - agents, photographers, and magazine editors - have contributed chapters explaining the business from every angle.

You come away learning that fitness modeling isn't just about being in tremendous shape, it's about being a shrewd businessperson with a positive attitude. You really learn what it takes - and as a bonus you get simple but effective advice on training and nutrition to keep in top shape all year long.

If you decide you want to be a fitness model after reading this book, you'll feel like you have some real friends in the industry. If you call anyone mentioned in the book and tell them that you read it, I think they'd give you a real shot if you're serious. If you decide you don't want to be a fitness model after reading this book, you'll still have a positive guide with powerful advice you can use to look, feel, and be your very best.

Clark has helped me learn how to achieve the goal I want and to market myself in the fitness business. He has the knowledge, and the dedication to get you anywhere you want to be. After reading his book I too believe that If I work hard and dedicate myself that I could have a future being a Fitness model. This is an incredible book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Fitness.

This book has helped me find business contacts that would have probably cost me alot of money if I would have searched other ways.I really did'nt know that it was this easy to contact the people who make the big decisions. I could'nt and would'nt have done it without this book. If you have ever had the dream of being a fitness model,then I strongly advise you to buy this book...

It's so refreshing to finally find a book that applies specifically to the interests of fitness models and that covers the topic so thoroughly. Weeding through the books written for fashion models was becoming tiresome, so I was pleasantly surprised when I finally came across this book. While reading it, I was ecstatic to find that it was packed full of useful information. I was able to identify the mistakes I've been routinely making and start implementing Clark's invaluable advice. All of the other books I've purchased have not been as useful to me as this one book. I recommend it to anyone who is serious about fitness modeling!

I have read this book from cover to cover and although I disagree with many of his decisions and rankings I must hold my tongue for he gave a well-stated reason for every choice in the placement of the people in his list. This was a truly entertaining collage of essays, I only had a few disagreements: why was Einstein listed so high and not Feynmann or Maxwell, and why not more philosophers and authors, for the books that we read influence us greatly. Overall a great piece of literature!

This is an engrossing read. Hart's interesting narrative will keep you amused for hours. The ranking itself is hot topic for debate. For example, is Muhammad more influential than Jesus Christ? Is Isaac Newton the most influential scientist? Who is Tsai Lun and why is he so influential? Are scientists more influential than politicians but less influential than religious leaders? The fact that Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln didn't make the list should make us examine the list more closely. And the book certainly looks irresistible on the bookshelf.

This book, a book all school children should use as one of their history textbooks, is a wonderful way to plot the course of history while learning about individuals to which one might never be exposed in the normal course of schooling as it exists today. The book boosts the Ayn Rand concept that all great accomplishments have been a function of individual effort and not of the government collective.

Previous reviewers have noted that while they might not agree with Michael Hart's ordering of the 100, they certainly appreciate the thoughtfulness of his conclusions. I once sat with 20 or more people as we collectively debated with Dr. Hart and it was no contest. Our limitations were readily apparent.

Few among us could write a book such as this which is why it deserves such a "high ranking" for any collector of books interested in the histororical advance of mankind's living standards. While Hart has a degree in everything, and brings a resevoir of knowledge where others can manage only a trickle, he also exhibits a shrewd understanding of the cause and effect of man's inventive capacity on the human condition. This is a must read for anyone with intellectual curiousity.

This book is a great listing of the most Influential people in history. I do have some quibbles with who Mr. Hart put on the list, or where he ranked some of them. But then, it isn't my listing. Hart intends the book to be the beginning of discussion, not the end. He appears to have succeded.

I do like the fact that Hart places a great emphesis on science and technology, as I do see these as the driving forces of history. Without scientific advancement, then certain things just wouldn't exist now a days... things that we think have no connection with science. The ability to communicate quickly, travel quickly, etc. Alone makes many things we take for granted now a days possible that in the past poeple wouldn't have dared to dream could occur.

I own both of the major editions of this book. It is too bad that the work is out of print now, as it deservers to be published and updated.

Yes, I admit it, I stole my title for this review from Monty Python's priceless "Argument Clinic" comedy sketch. One can't help but think of that sketch while reading this book, however -- why else would someone attempt such a captivating creation of chutzpah, if not to start arguments?!

Hart has taken it upon himself not only to select, but actually to RANK the one hundred most influential people in human history. Leave aside, for a moment, whether such an activity can be considered meaningful. One can't help but cheer the author on as he makes his selections, and defends his choices and rankings. Be warned, he eschews normative assessments of the people he proposes for his list. What I mean by this is that he doesn't take into account whether they were good or evil, just whether they had an impact on a lot of people. Hitler, for example, is included. So you may need to forgive Hart for even calling attention to such evil people. This is not a trivial quibble. Still, overall, you will find youself fascinated by this overall attempt to come to grips with some significant figures from the past.

You might expect, for example, to find Jesus Christ, Buddha, Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, Mohammed, and Confucious placed pretty high on the list. You would be right. But in what ORDER are they ranked? And WHY? How does the author defend his choices? And to what extent, if any, do you agree with him? If you think he's totally out to lunch, do you have a better suggestion to make? This is the kind of thought-process this book engenders, and whether you agree with the writer or not, you will enjoy following his reasoning, tremendously.

My only caveat is that some consideration might have been given, (maybe a place of honor near or at the top of the list), to the unsung people from history. After all, a lot of people on this list simply hungered slaveringly after fame, in one way or another, and rode roughshod over all kinds of people in their stampeed for a place in the history books. A lot of the people who have always had the most favorable influence on humanity, I increasingly suspect, are the ones that no one ever finds out about, behind the scenes, leading good and honorable lives. It might have been nice if the author set aside a place for such people, instead of being quite so relentlessly Nietzschean in his selections.

At any rate, this is one of the most provocative books I've ever owned. Definitely two thumbs up.

I purchased this book for a family member and now they swear by it. It is a good book for everyone to read so that those in the work place can work better together.

This is one of the best business books ever! Five stars is to low for such an outstanding work as 100 ways to motivate others. Steve Chandler and Scott Richardson have a writing style that really hit home for me. Order this book now and your return on investment could be huge. I loved every word. I have already ordered all of Steve Chandler's books as a result of my satisfaction with this effort. . 10 Stars - 2 hour 40 minute very easy read. This book offers steps leaders can take to increase composure and results.

John Halloran
CEO [...]
CEO [...]

Great tips and ideas for motivating others, especially in the business world. Some of them include, "Know Where Motivation Comes From, Teach Self-Discipline, Stop Criticizing Upper Management, Keep Giving Feedback, Get Input from your People, Accelerate Change, Don't Confuse Stressing Out With Caring, Manage Your Own Superiors, and Manage Agreements, Not People." If you want to become a great leader, I highly recommend this book.

I've listened to these CD's more than once while driving. There are lots of great tips - and a couple opened my eyes to some areas where I had been stuck. Not every point was new to me. I have recommended it to others and shared some of the individual points with friends.

Steve Chandler drives home the keys to becoming a great leader in a way that is easy to understand and implement. This should be required reading for anyone in a leadership role. David Otis Author of "Walk Fast, Talk Loud and Smile."

Where would we be without humor in the world? Would you want to live in a world without humor? I don't think so!

The author begins by giving us a definition of a "highly humorous person". He describes this type of person as someone you will be drawn to and want to spend time with. You will enjoy their company no matter what your surroundings might be. Most people possess these traits; however, few reach their potential of being a highly humorous person.

The author then goes on to explain the 7½ habits of highly humorous people. You will find it interesting that the first one listed is only "The Half Habit" - Mastering your thoughts. David explains that you don't need the whole habit in order for it to be effective.

On a very personal note, when the author talks about the ½ habit, he tells the readers that ten years ago psoriatic arthritis seized many of his joints and as a result changed his self-image. He entered a bicycle race which was a fundraising event and managed to cross the finish line after 115 miles. He received the Jim Elliott Award which is given to someone with a chronic illness who is not the normal type of person to compete against healthy individuals. David also received a silver medal. Due to all the media attention, he was considered the person the next year to win the gold medal. However, on David's first training ride the next year, his knees and back prevented him from going past one mile. David began to feel depressed. After all, he was the inspiration to many and now he could not ride the bike for more than a mile. Also, his ego was involved. For a moment, David felt his only choice was to give up. This was a negative thought and he had to bring in some humor to help him out of this situation. It didn't take David very long to come up with the idea of riding a unicycle in the race. His goal was to ride the unicycle 50 miles. It was difficult because of the cold and wind and after 48 miles his body told him it was time to quit. Did he? No way. David's humor came into play and he told himself to go another couple of miles and he could laugh and tell his grandchildren about this one day!

I found the chapter on Self-Effacing Humor very interesting. The author states that you should know your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Poke some fun at yourself in order to open some communication. When you laugh at yourself, it is a very healthy form of humor.

There are many other interesting parts of this book but I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I will stop here.

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I was in for a treat! Did you ever give much thought about the meaning of humor? David M. Jacobson has written a guide to humor and this book shows the reader just how talented this author is when it comes to writing. As you go through each section of this book, you will find them both funny and serious at the same time. The author has delivered a book that is written in a very clever manner. He has incorporated some ideas that I never would have thought of doing such as adding a backward instead of a foreword, a preface that lists things we can do with this book if we don't like it, a postface and a fast foreword. David Jacobson does an excellent job of showing the important role that humor plays in our lives. This is a very well written book. What I really enjoyed most about it is the way the writer includes many of his own personal obstacles in life and added the results of how humor has helped him work his way through it all. It just goes to prove that no matter what happens, we need to just sit back, relax and try to put some humor into our thoughts. Maybe things won't look so bad after that. As you read through this book, you will come across many statements made by David that make so much sense. You will find yourself thinking "Wow! That is so true." This is an inspirational read as well as one that you will find thoroughly entertaining. This is a fast paced book that you could read in a couple of hours so get ready to sit back, relax and enjoy David Jacobson's humor "therapy". I highly recommend "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People".

I could tell by the silly man on the cover of the book, it was an unusual book -112 pages of extremely good advise.
The reader needs to know this is not a joke book. There are plenty of them in bookstores. No, this is a serious humorous book, if that is possible. Jacobson has been a very ill person and he used humor and other special qualities to get him through to where he is today: brilliant, vibrant and living a life of "helping others" and making people laugh.
He believes that humor can change your life for the better; that humor can get you through the most catastrophic events of your life. Jacobson says that "a highly humorous person is the most resilient person on the planet."
The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Humorous People will make you smile, laugh and find more inspiration than you can imagine. For many occassions buying a few of these books will be the "perfect" gift!

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (3/08)

David M. Jacobson, MSW, LCSW is a professional speaker, licensed psychotherapist and social worker. He is a self-proclaimed international expert in humor and health and is also President of Humor Horizons. Among his other affiliations is the National Speakers Association. David received the National Hero Overcoming Arthritis Award and the Arthritis Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been presented with the "Joy Mask" for his work with the Korean Broadcasting System, The President's Award from Flashnet Marketing and the Jim Elliot Award for his fund-raising, 50-mile unicycle ride. David also served on the Arizona's Governor's Office for Children's Justice Task Force.

Mr. Jacobson's book was a pleasant surprise compared to some of the other comical editions by others. His mixture of poetry and prose brought a refreshing tone to this little 120-page volume.

David explains the seven and a half habits in this way, beginning with "The Half Habit." "The half habit: This is a half habit because you don't need the whole habit in order for you to be effective." He goes on to say that it is the most difficult habit to maintain because it is the habit of changing your thoughts.

Habit number one he says is to treat humor as a necessity. As much as using the bathroom is a necessity, so is humor--placing an importance on treating your sense of humor as high up as a basic bodily function.
Habit number two is termed "Use Self-effacing humor."
What it is and how to use it, when making yourself the butt of a joke.
The third habit is very self-explanatory. "Keep your eyes open for humorous situations or create them with your imagination."
Habit number four begins with a cute poem and is titled, "Use the Power of Humor and its positive influence on your own self and that of others."
Habit five goes into detail on how to use your humorous imagination to improve your communication. This chapter deals with the ability to communicate with others.
In habit number six, David throws in his own words that are not in Webster's.
"Humorize with Humorgy," he professes that your whole life will change.
The grand finale comes in habit seven when David says, "Act like the highly humorous person you've become or are becoming."

I enjoyed "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People," and think it would make a nice addition to a library. It's a well-worded, funny little book that would make great reading on an airplane. I gave it a B and that was only because I did not find all the photos as funny as the verbiage.

The book "The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Humorous People" by David, M. Jacobson is good reading and very funny. I enjoyed reading it and it is improving the quality of my life every day by looking for the humor in stressful situations.

Life is funny if you let it be. Even when you feel like it shouldn't be, deep down in your spirit there is humor waiting to giggle out into the world. David M. Jacobson reminds us to let the laughter loose in his book, "The 7 ½ Habits of Highly Humorous People." It isn't a joke book, but it is a delightful reminder to watch for the jokes in life, even, or maybe especially, the ones that are on you.

David has had his fair share of jokes played on him. Is he bitter? Not that I could tell. He emits happiness through the pages of his book. He shares joy and it's contagious. Be warned that you will not be able to read this book without cracking a smile and likely will come away from it a better person. Of the 7 ½ habits you'll learn about, I think the half habit is the most important and the best way to get started on changing your life. Simply, it is to change the way you think. Not a simple task! Turning the negative thought into a positive one is challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable. What finding the positive does for yourself is life changing, and the thoughts you share with others can have a profound influence on them. The other 7 habits are equally reflective and uplifting, from realizing that humor is a necessity to humorizing with humorgy (you'll have to read the book to find out what that means!); the lessons within this book are not meant to simply help a class clown to develop his style but to show the world the power of laughter.

David uses his self proclaimed necessary self-effacing humor to open his world to the reader. It becomes very easy to understand how he needed to let out those giggles and how it changed his life. Throughout the book he throws in one liners and obtuse observations and this made me laugh out loud. It is a funny read, but also a wonderful life lesson guide. Would you go to a guru who sits atop a unicycle? Maybe you should. This book is well written and easily accepted as truth. It holds deep insights regarding inner spirit and higher powers, and interpretations of classic comedy. This is a mix you cannot miss! (this book review was written by another person ... i found it on the internet ... but you must buy this book today ... it is a must read!!!)