Professional Books

This book was very helpful in showing me the ins and outs of a 360 degree review system. Has the basic theory, how to implement the system, and ways t work around the resistance to change.

The book is excellent for development of policy for 360-Degree, why it should be implemented, and what steps to take before and after the feedback.

This is not an instructional book in the development of a 360-degree questionnaire.

The book provides excellent knowledge on what, where, who, when, and how. Highly recommended for knowledge, but not for building of the questionnaire.

Lots of ideas that can be transferred into one's real life situation easily.

"We wrote this book", write R.Lepsinger and A.D.Lucia, "with three audiences in mind. The first consists of 'human resources professionals' who are just beginning to look at 360-degree feedback as a means to address the business needs of their organizations. These are people who have not had much experience using 360-degree feedback to solve business problems and have many basic questions that require answers if they are going to use the technology successfully. The second audience consists of 'line managers' who have heard a lot about 'this 360-degree feedback stuff' and want to understand it well enough to determine if it is the right approach for their organization. The third group consists of 'more experienced HR professionals' who would like a compherensive reference work on 360-degree feedback that makes it easy to access the information they are looking for without having to skim through dozens of magazines and journal articles and textbooks."

In this invaluable study, authors organize their book into two parts :

(I). Preparing to use 360-degree feedback.

In this part, they :

i. offer basic information, including a definition of 360-degree feedback and a brief overview of its history and evolution.

ii. illustrate how a diverse group of companies (real cases) has successfully used 360-degree feedback to address different organizational issues, such as achieving business strategy, supporting cultural change, fostering individual development, enhancing team effectiveness, and identifying training and selection requirements.

iii. discuss and compare the two most common methods for collecting 360-degree feedback- interviews and questionnaires.

iv. focus on the use of interviews alone to collect data or as a supplement to the data provided by a questionnaire.

(II). Implementing a 360-degree feedback.

In this part, they :

i. focus on how to administer a 360-degree feedback process in a way that increases people's enthusiasm and ensures a high degree of confidence in the results.

ii. describe and compare three methods for delivering the feedback- group workshops, one-on-one meetings, and self-study.

iii. review what needs to be done after the feedback is collected and reviewed to ensure that recipients absurb the messages they have been given and take appropriate action.

iv. discuss the benefits and obstacles to using 360-degree feedback in HR management systems.

I highly recommend this invaluable study.

This is the best book on Architectural Illustration & Rendering. There is no other book like this. You'll see beautiful renderings from professional illustrators from around the world. If you use these techniques on your renderings or presentations.... you will stand out from your competition.

i thought this was a wonderfull book it will help me greatly in times to come. i also loved the descriotive nature of this book.

Dear mr. Grice:

I loved your book so much, that I have decided that this is what
I would like to do. I am unable to go to college, but I have completed architectural drafting at a local art school. What do I have to study to do renderings such as the type you have in the book? (10 stars!)

If you do get to read this, please contact amazon so that you
can answer my letter.
I tried to find a site where I could send you an e-mail, but
was not succesful.

Thank you so kindly.
Mrs. W

This book is absolutely fabulous! It does not give instructions
on how to do this type of work. It is only to inspire. If
you have a passion for learning architectural illustration, as
I do, you will reach the heavens after looking at some of these gorgeous drawings. There are illustrations in airbrush, pencil, watercolor, tempra, and by computer. If that's what you are
looking for, it's worth every penny!

The books are very detailed and take a lot of analysis... they are not written in a current Object Oriented Language... that was a disappointment but otherwise it is very good... just uses old "spaghetti code"

This fascicle can perhaps best be read as a sequel to Knuth's Volume 3, on sorting and searching, where he discusses trees. The fascicle extends that into how does one generate every tree. Of the four fascicles thus published, this might be the skimpiest in terms of current mathematical knowledge. Though to a practising programmer, trees are a vital construct and the book could well have germane analysis. And, as with his other books in this series, there is a tough set problems that can be just as instructive and interesting as the text.

Still, to perhaps compensate for the thin length, the book contains a distinctive section on the history of combinatorial generation. Knuth delves into this subject while giving a deeper treatment of the maths than one would likely encounter in a popular text directed at a general audience. He cites the I Ching, as well as ancient Indian and Arab manuscripts. The I Ching is notable as it is still in print and likely to be familiar to many.

With the publication of this fascicle, the collective set of four would make a respectable book in its own right. However, Knuth is scarcely done yet. We can expect more fascicles, and soon, one might hope. And eventually, a hardcover.

The fourth volume in the classic ART OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING: GENERATING ALL TREES: HISTORY OF COMBINATORIAL GENERATION add to and expands upon a multi-volume work on the analysis of algorithms in classical programming, updating sections of the set using a series of small fascicle books. This covers the generatio of all trees, a topic covered in the first three volumes of ART OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, and provides over a hundred new exercises to programmers.

I've known about The Art of Computer Programming volumes by Donald E. Knuth for some time, but I've always avoided reviewing them for fear of not being able to do them justice. But after being contacted specifically by the publisher asking if I was interested in the latest - The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4, Fascicle 4 : Generating All Trees--History of Combinatorial Generation - I decided to give it a try. For the right audience, this is really good stuff. But I can tell you that I'm not it...

Content:
Chapter 7 - Combinatorial Searching: 7.2 - Generating All Possibilities; 7.2.1 - Generating Basic Combinatorial Patterns; 7.2.1.1 - Generating all n-tuples; 7.2.1.2 - Generating all permutations; 7.2.1.3 - Generating all combinations; 7.2.1.4 - Generating all partitions; 7.2.1.5 - Generating all set partitions; 7.2.1.6 - Generating all trees; 7.2.1.7 - History and further references; Answers to Exercises; Index and Glossary

Don't refresh your browser thinking the Content section didn't load properly. There's just chapter 7... For those who don't understand the "fascicle" concept (like I didn't before getting this volume), it's a small book (120 pages) of material that either updates writings in previous volumes or a "preview" of material that will eventually be rolled into a single volume (in this case, volume 4). Knuth has a lot of information he wants to convey, and by using fascicles, the public can get a steady flow of information and help shape the continuing evolution of the series. Interesting concept, and one I can appreciate. Another review stated that this was probably one of the "skimpiest" volumes in terms of mathematical knowledge. If true, then I fear what will await me with future installments. To get the most of out Knuth's work, you really do need to be well-grounded in computer science and mathematical theory. Every page is populated with numerous formulas to prove the subject matter, and I'll admit to being completely lost in most of it. That doesn't mean the book isn't good. It *is* excellent work, but I'm definitely not the target audience. I don't come from a formal computer science and mathematics background, so I'd have to really slog through everything from page 1 with supporting texts in order to fully benefit from it.

It wasn't a total loss for me, though... I enjoyed the History and Further References chapter, where he shows the tree theory and how it affected such things as literature and culture through the ages. Whether the ancient Chinese had all this in mind when developing the I Ching is open to debate, but the theory and underpinnings of trees is definitely there. And for those readers who really want to work through and apply the material, there are exercises galore at the end (with answers graciously provided for those who get stuck). You could likely set up a college level course based on this (and associated) book, and it would be foundational to a computer science degree.

So, for the right audience, this is the type of book that will allow for weeks of thought and learning. But if you're more like me, someone who deals more with business systems and development (without a comp sci degree to back it up), you'll likely miss most of the value here.

The book is outstanding and i picked up this audio version used, for my car as it doesnt have a CD player. Old car. The audio book is great and the core essentials are all there. Very well done and great for those who end up collecting unread books due to time pressures. Not sure worth it new but got mine for a few dollars on cassette.

I had some trepidation about reading what seemed like another dry book for business analysts (my job,) but found this book to be much, much more.
The author recounts stories from IDEO, to give examples for the ideas presented. I found myself wanting a job at IDEO after reading only a quarter of the book.
The lessons that can be learned from this book extend beyond business analysis. A CEO, manager, teacher, priest, parent or any type of leader will be able to gain insight and make positive changes in their organizations using the ideas presented. If you're in any type of leadership role, READ THIS BOOK! If you're not, buy it for your boss - You'll benefit from it too!

I read this book awile back during a vacation and couldn't put it down. I only read no-fiction books and this one was the best I'd ever read. I've never felt compelled to review a book before, but his one was worth it. It was very well written, informative as well as inspirational. It made me want to go work at Ideo. Well worth your time.

Thanks Tom! We're just starting a new technology business and we're wanting and needing to create the sort of culture that you have at Ideo. Our industry is dynamic, so if we're not dynamic then we will not succeed. For us that means innovate - deliver true value to our customers - learn - innovate - deliver more value to our customers, in a continuous cycle. You have given us some practical ideas about how we can ingrain innovation into our culture as we grow. Thanks.

I had the opportunity to speak to the author and he is a very intelligent and humble person. During our phone conversation he gave me valuable information that he'd normally extend during his seminars. Additionally, the book is a must-have if you want to advance in this very aggressive and challenging world. As you know, we are constantly matched up against those to have an intellectual edge as well as acute (s)wordplay, to your advantage this book will give you the necessary verbosity to handle various situations you make face. Overall, if utilized properly one will characterize you as being well-informed, polished, articulate, eloquent and intellectual. Bottom-line, your words are symbols of ideas and represent you and of course- define you! -Leon B.

This book is a definite must have for anyone seeking to bolster their vocabulary and communication skills. I have recommended it to several of my friends and co-workers.

The Articulate Professional is a book that should be owned by anyone seeking to enhance their communication skills. It is not just a vocabulary book. The pages serve as a comprehensive easy to use guide with a strong focus on commonly used words in the business world. I especially liked the format of the book. Examples are provided for each word with its main, formal/semiformal, workplace and casual usage. I have recommended this book to other managers in my company as well as friends. I give this book the highest rating possible. It is an excellent tool.

I've been trying for several months to find a resource book that would assist me in developing a much stronger vocabulary. Having purchased 3 other books, I can say this one is a proven winner. Unlike typical vocabulary material that provides the standard definition and possibly the phonetical spelling of the word, this book also incorporates the word into several, not one or two, real life sentence structures. They include the formal definition, work place examples, casual usage and then other examples. The book also groups similar words together. Although these words are not ubiquitous, they have day to day applications. I found the book so helpful that I have purchased it for my employees. The only suggestion would be to include synonyms for the words. Otherwise it's a great book.

Ever given a presentation to a room full of people and realised that you were failing dismally? Ever had one student in your class who you just couldn't reach? Ever thought of giving up teaching/presenting because it's no fun anymore and your audience is getting tougher to handle everyday? Ever wanted to be better at what you do and don't know who to turn to for the answers? - well read on.

A new book entitled Artistry in Training by Stephanie Burns takes us to a higher level of understanding about the role and impact of the educator/trainer, in a concisely written, logically sequenced and easy to read format. Before we start, perhaps some definitions are necessary. Throughout the book Burns uses the term trainer to describe "anyone seeking to change or modify human behaviour - affecting the skills or actions, the thoughts and emotions of other people" (she covers this well in a section within her introduction entitled "What's in a Name"). So, for the purpose of this review I will use the term trainer to identify anyone involved in the teaching world - coach, teacher, counsellor, leader, sales manager. Further, Burns refers to members of the audience as students. So again, I will use this term throughout this review. Finally, whilst Burns has spent much of her life focussing on adult education, her focus is on education and learning. The methodology detailed in Artistry in Training has equal application to a group of five year olds or fifty year olds, so I will not distinguish adult or child education in this review, I will simply use the term education.

Now, if you want another "how to training book", stop right here, Artistry in Training is not for you. If however you are seeking to understand the experience of the learner, what is happening in your classroom and what you need to do to achieve 100% participation and results from your students, then Artistry in Training is an essential read.

Firstly, let's start with the author. American Stephanie Burns is a leading force in the field of education. She has spent her lengthy career exploring the "why's" of learning (both as student and educator), specialising in the area of adult education. Burn's client list (attained from another source) reads like a 'who's who' of world business. Try NASA, Coca Cola, ABC-TV and General Electric to name a few, and you have got to sit up and take note of what Burns is saying. Now resident in Australia, Burns has placed much of her recent focus on sharing her knowledge with other trainers in the live seminar environment. One suspects from her acknowledgments at the start of this book, that Burns was cajoled into writing Artistry in Training by her publishers, Woodslane, and to them we owe a debt of gratitude. For Artistry in Training is truly ground breaking and streets ahead of other training materials on the market.

Burns had me by page 9 of Artistry in Training when, after sharing an amusing story about her first training attempt, she writes " that those with perseverance and a willingness to make all their experiences useful, will without doubt succeed". Anyone who has sought to train or educate another person in anything, must surely be inspired by this line. So what makes Burns approach to the world of education different? Simply, it is these three core concepts.

1.Know and understand the learner's experience - realise that students are not all the same. 2.Understand the range and flexibility of behaviours that you as a trainer possess. 3.Develop coherent presentations/materials that make sense.

Now don't be fooled here. These concepts whilst making inordinate sense as one liners, are the result of years of research and study and are backed by a mass of theoretical data which Burns has painstakingly gathered from around the globe. What I particularly like about Burns work is that she obviously understands why her work works (or fails as in her first training experience) and this is well communicated throughout the book. This is probably what makes Burns unique and allows her message to be labelled ground breaking. There is no guess work here and as we read the book we can see that Burns has tested every concept and idea in real learning environments. Artistry in Training is a true blend of academic foundation and experience, which has been simply translated for the most experienced or novice trainer.

An easy 250 page read, Artistry in Training is extraordinary in its detail. Burns use of anecdotes keeps the reader grounded in the real world and builds a bridge of shared experiences which most readers will immediately relate to. The construction of the book (7 chapters) is solid, with each chapter containing an introduction, body and summary. Whilst I would not recommend it, this format allows the reader to read the book based on chapter interest, instead of from front to back. An FAQ chapter concludes the book, which is particularly useful for those hungry for immediate practical application. Entitled " Going Real-Time" this section has quickly become my favourite.

Artistry in Training is an enthralling first time read and for anyone engaged in the education field, a constant companion that will age well with time. So if you are charged with the task of teaching anything to anyone, Artistry in Training must be your first port of call. It is practical, intelligently written and provides hope to anyone seeking to communicate a message.

Artistry in Training is good self help book for any Trainer. Stephanie has provided friendly guidance for being a confident Trainer. Her style of presenting facts, analysing them and offering of expert advise with empathy is the hallmark of this book.I find in this book a strong reasoning for every guidance offered.

The book reflects great clarity and confidence in her field.Chapter 3 and chapter 7 is superb.I will call this book as Mentoring the Trainer.

Thanks very much..

Artistry in Training is a book I have been 'friends' with for 3 years now, long before meeting Stephanie. The experiences that Stephanie shares are real, tell it like it is and have enabled me to get a better understanding of this wonderful career path of being a trainer of adults and the wonderful interactions and dynamics they bring to a training environ. No special skills required to understand and gain from this 'friend'. When you feel alone on the path you are trying to forge for yourself, turn to Artistry in Training for a friendly help and reminder of why you are doing what you are doing.

This book masterfully weaves the many threads of how to achieve the magical moments of being a trainer.

A personalised, practical and thoroughly researched book on strategies that are engaging, obvious and challenging.

Having personally used the strategies in this book and encouraged over 500 to do the same I confidently stand in a place saying "it works"!

The author writes as if in conversation with you which makes it an easy read, yet the questions posed, leave you uncertain long enough to seek the answers woven through the stories.

The layout enables a quick reference guide for current issues or timely refresher. It is an ideal read for aspiring new trainers or experienced trainers looking for the next learning.

This handbook is a collection of ideas from companies for designing employee training and learning systems. It covers such areas such as creating the "learning organization", outsourcing, electronic performance systems, interactive multimedia training systems, diversity training and development, training for global operations and benchmarking for best practices.

This comprehensive handbook helps trainers design classrooms, self-study and computer and web based training programs. While delivering the latest information on how adults learn best, it shows trainers how to prepare lesson plans, create visual aids, and deliver dynamic and powerful presentations.

This is a great resource for HR professionals from tiny to mega corporations. Contributing authors are the most respected experts in their fields. Primary focus is on training and development: accountability, justifying programs, format, leadership, pros, cons, pitfalls, challenges . . . all aspects are covered.

As I research and write my Adult Education thesis, this book is the most useful tool I've found.

The ASTD Training and Development Handbook, Fourth Edition, by Robert L. Craig, is an essential reference book for faculty, teachers, educators, and learning system administartors at all levels including University, Corporate, K-12, and Community Colleges. It is easy to use, very comprehensive, and has great quick summaries. With the fusion of the teaching, training, and tutoring into a learner centered model this book is more useful than ever. A MUST BUY. The price is worth every penny.

The Handbook is arranged to cover almost all aspects of Training & Development. The topics are carefully selected and their authors picked from among the top names in their respective fields and therefore, the chapters are focused, targeted and provide the right mix of information and practical guidelines.

Each chapter addresses a single topic (like corporate universities, customer service training, leadership development, etc.) and is written in a straight-forward manner at the right depth making them easy to read and the perfect introduction to the topic without losing it's functionality as a reference.

No T&D professional should go without this book whether as a reference and a quick source of information when memory will just not oblige or an informative and valuable resource for information and ideas.

The Handbook is divided into 5 Sections:
1) The Training & development Function - Covering such topics as the learning organization, history of training and cost accounting for training.
2) Program Design & Development - The chapters on ISD; HPT; Adult Learning; & Evaluation are brilliantly written. I keep on going back to them again and again.
3) Media & methods - Includes some good case studies as well as Thiagi's excellent chapter on instructional games.
4) Training Applications - This is a brilliant discussion of almost all training topics that you might come across.
5) Resources - While these might be a little dated, they are still quite useful.

Check the table of Contents and some of the samples in the pages so obligingly provided by Amazon.com and don't be deterred by the length or the price of the book. This book is worth every cent and will last you long after you have forgotten the cost.

The book is compelling, especially for its target audience: people aspiring to careers in the creative arts. One message comes through loud and clear from those who have succeeded: be persistent; never give up. I have a few friends who are trying to write the Great American Novel or become the next famous director or screenwriter who I'd like to give this book to. It's also a completely engaging and interesting read for anyone who picks it up. Recommend it highly.

This entertaining, insightful, fun book is a must read for anyone aspiring to greater heights. I loved the cast of characters, what fantastic stories, very inspiring. You really got a first-hand, insiders look at what these people had to go through in order to pursue their dreams. A triumph of the human spirit, writer Joel Eisenberg has got my vote for another installment.

As you read "Aunt Bessie's How to Survive a Day Job While Pursuing the Creative Life," you feel like you are on the inside of a great discovery. In the bookworld, the author, Joel Eisenberg, is a virgin. This is his first, yet he's received contributions from so many A-listers it would take too much room to recount here.

I agree with an earlier posting about the cleverness of his introduction, where he turns into this 'Aunt Bessie' character, crossing Ann Landers with Eminem, who then proceeds to introduce each chapter. Could definitely be a film.

It's a fun read, and it's also an education about persistence and strategies necessary to endure a day job, while following your bliss, as Joseph Campbell would say.

I especially liked Clive Barker's segment, who somehow never worked a day job, refusing to be a 'wage slave.' It's perspectives like this that make this book different. A prior poster mentioned that this may be The Second Coming of "Chicken Soup for the Soul." Maybe, but this one has edge.

This is one of the year's out of nowhere surprises, and I can't wait for the next one.

Aunt Bessie is the alter-ego of self-proclaimed frustrated writer Joel Eisenberg, which is made clear, hysterically so, in the clever intro. I picked up a copy of this at San Diego's Comic Con International, on the last day, where there were only two books remaining. I have to say, my husband and I were astounded on the train ride back.

This is only a first book by this author, yet he received contributions from such notables as Clive Barker, Larry ("JR") Hagman, Laurell K. Hamilton, Stuart Woods, Brad Meltzer, "ET's" mom Dee Wallace Stone, former heavyweight boxing champ Larry Holmes and so many others. They all have such interesting stories.

But what makes this book even more compelling is that he has a section about everyday people - non-celebrities - that are surviving the process now en eroute to reaching their goals as a singer, actor, writer, etc.

Anyone that has ever hated their day job, or resented the fact that they could not pursue what they wanted to in life may just rethink their strategies after reading this immensely inspiring book.

At the end, more "Aunt Bessie" volumes are promised. This could be something. I think we just read the second coming of Chicken Soup For the Soul.

Written in a very own Allen's style, this item offers great tips on common topics that not always, and not necesarily, are mastered by intermediate users. Onstott's work is very useful also. Very good purchase for new users who wish to push a little more. And for the Professionals? Not bad. A very good reminder about seemed-to-be-easy daily matters at office.
Paper and Printing quality of the product are simply excellent.

It is not surprising, considering the fact that Lynn Allen is the Technical Evangelist for Autodesk and that she meets with thousands of AutoCAD users every year, that once again her book is packed to the ceiling with fantastic tips, insights, tricks and strategies for putting AutoCAD in high gear. The book offers invaluable information in bite-sized morsels which can easily and gradually be implemented into any AutoCAD-based process to simplify and streamline it. Lynn also maintains an equally beneficial blog at [..] if you want a sampling of the kind of material conveniently compiled in this book. Highly recommended for anyone seeking "AutoCAD PowerUser" proficiency.

I have been using AutoCAD since 1992, after the first couple years of using AutoCAD, I stopped learning new tricks and learning better ways of using AutoCAD because I was able to do my job with the set of AutoCAD skills I have. This book helps me brush up my CAD skills and taught me many new tricks to be more efficient. It was never too late to teach an old dog new tricks!

This book is fantastic!! It really allows a power user more options and tips and tricks. Every tip ends up saving time and makes CAD more fun to use. Lynn keep up the great work.

Having Suffered the war of debt in small business I can tell you that this book has been extremely helpful. The lesson learned are valuable and never to be forgotten.

This book is filled with tons of useful information...its practicality and brevity make it a must read for any small business owner.

Over the past few years, I have spoken with so many entrepreneurs who are struggling with business debts. They don't want to throw in the towel, but they don't know where to turn either. This is the book I will recommend to them.

Starting with the first chapter, Adopt a Positive Debt-Fighting Attitude, Ken gets the business owner in the right frame of mind to turn things around. In my experience, this it the phase that stops many people in their tracks and keeps them from finding a solution.

In the second chapter, he describes his own experience starting a specialty retail store that was hit by a recession (sound familiar?). He describes his struggles and how he handled them. He knows about sleepless nights, and the panic of watching your dream going down in flames!

Then chapter by chapter he leads entrepreneurs through the steps they must take to get their business back on track. Strategies include workouts, settlements, dump-buybacks, and more. He uses plenty of real-life examples to make the book interesting and help readers realize they aren't the only ones who have struggled.

If you want to nurse your ailing business back to health -- or you need emergency surgery -- this is the book you'll want to read.

This book offers business owners more than knowledge - it offers hope and genuine debt solutions that anyone can implement, starting today. I'm ordering 30 copies for my clients because this information is too valuable to keep to myself.

Dale R. Willerton