Teams Books

I have read every diet book ever printed (almost) and have tried most weight loss methods a time or two (at least) and this is the first time anyone has cut through the diet mumbo jumbo and used a down to earth, real life approach. I LOVED this book because it is easy to read, understand, and follow. Ken, thanks for sharing your story!

Finally. A book that cuts through the unrealistic claims of diets and exercise programs. Ken and Tracy are right. There are no magic formulas to losing weight. This book gave me common sense options that I can follow and make a part of my life.

may 1st.,2000 Ihad a scare with death. I thought I had a heart attack. Luckily I didn't. But I was 60 pounds overweight ,cholesterol was 245 and all other blood work was out of whack. I was 49 years old and i had a wife a 9 year old son and a five year old grandson.Knowing the authers and that they were writing this book ,I asked for help. One year later, I now weigh 200 pounds my cholesteral is down to 170. and I can do two miles every day and don,t even blink. When the book came out I snatched it up and read it in one night .WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME TO DO,WAS RIGHT IN THIS BOOK.THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK IS TRUE. YOU HAVE TO WANT TO DO THIS AND YOU NEED SOMEONE TO GIVE YOU THE SUPPORT YOU NEED.IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE PHILOSOPHY AND SOLUTIONS IN THIS BOOK I KNOW I WOULD BE PUSHING UP ROSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND ALSO FOR MY FAMILY FOR BELIEVING I COULD DO IT. DON'T PASS THIS ONE UP.

This book has contributed in a BIG way to saving my soul. These author's are bringing us back to some simple and obvious solutions to not only losing weight, but to losing sight of the expectations that society puts on us (and sometimes we put on ourselves). Ken and Tracy are the role models we all need because they teach us better than any diet plan ever could, WHERE to start. Getting and staying healthy can only start from within. This book will help you get healthy, lose weight and keep it off because it's techniques are easy to use. How bad do you want it? This book is a must read if you feel like you are on the diet roller-coaster like I was! Because of this book I have lost 27 lbs in 11 weeks, and I am definitely NOT on a diet! Just a lot wiser, and I have Ken and Tracy to thank for it!!

The book was very interesting from the perspective of dispelling the popular belief of dieting being the only way to lose weight. The most compelling part of this book was focusing on a very easy to understand formula, of NOT losing weight but how to keep it off. Most diet books I have read focus on a certain kind of eating plan that excludes foods most people enjoy eating. It is because of this you can't stay on the diet and receive long term benefits. This book is very educational on how to create a new and more enjoyable lifestyle for yourself while not giving up the pleasures of life. I have seen benefits from this in a very short period of time on the program. It is defintely something easy to understand and more importantly easy to follow. I travel every week and it is very easy for me to eat bad because of my schedule and being on the road. This lifestyle change allows for me to make sure I am eating the right foods without starving myself. This book "common senses" you to death on how to stay healthy. It is like being hit over the head with a velvet sledge hammer. There are no secret formulas or fad diets that will change your life long term. They are set up to give you a short term benefit quickly and like any other fad fade away over time. I would highly recommend this book and program to anyone who is interested in making a long term commitment to change their life.

Jeff Tousa Sr.VP of Sales FairPoint Communications

"When I picked the book up, I was at first riveted by Paul Sloanes' commentary of the social and business impact of innovation. His tips go on to help you understand new ways to do this that could be used in your company. I immediately wanted to stop, put the book down and take action on the points made in the text, such as Paul's "10 Ways to Increase Innovation." I picked the book up again for a second dose of enthusiasm and noted that there are powerful historical references to how people have applied concepts of innovataion before. The Innovative Leader is now an important reference that I like using in building consulting strategies with our clients. One of my favorites in Paul's book is, "give everyone two jobs..." I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for ways to add value to their business,and improve their own career potential."

Busy leaders and senior level executives will love Paul Sloane's new book, The Innovative Leader. It distills numerous innovation lessons and strategies into a concise, actionable executive summary format that speaks to their needs.

Sloane combines an impressive depth of knowledge about what works and doesn't work in the world of innovation, along with a strong background in lateral thinking - a chief source of ideas that fuel breakthrough innovation. He also weaves in real-world examples from innovative companies like IBM, Google and Virgin.

Unlike some innovation books, in which the author spends several hundred pages outlining his or her pet innovation framework, Sloane provides the reader with an eminently practical collection of innovation tips, examples and strategies. You'll find ideas that you'll want to implement right away in your business.

Aspiring creative leader, let Paul Sloane's "The Innovative Leader" be a guide for your actions, for your business for yourself. It's a great book!

It's fun. It's serious. It's one hundred and seven things to do for yourself, for your company, with your people. Each section is between half a page and three pages. It's organized under six headings: Leading Innovation, Problem Analysis, Generating Ideas, Implementing innovation processes, Building a creative culture, Personal creativity.

It's practical. It's simple. It's a list of things to do and be. Don't tell, ask. Keep fit. Train for innovation. Try weird combinations. Tell stories. Be passionate. Encourage dissent.

It's challenging. It's disruptive. It's high energy.

Aspiring creative leader, will you really do this stuff? Or some of it? You should. It's simple. Not easy. Try. You have nothing to lose but your rusty chains to obsolescence. You have a world to win.

The Summary
Paul Sloane, an expert on creativity and problem solving, has written a highly entertaining and idea-packed book on how to foster creativity and innovation in your teams. Every leader wants their teams to be more innovative, but don't always know how to go about it. Sloane, has gathered together a whole plethora of tools and techniques to stimulate teams into innovation overdrive.
NOTE: This review might seem a little over-excited! My only excuse is that it is hard not to be excited by Paul's exuberance that overflows throughout book!

The Audience
This booked is aimed at leaders that want to foster innovation and creativity into their teams. If you are looking for a practical book with techniques and tools that can be applied immediately to stimulate your teams, then look no further!

The Details
This is a short, fun book on how to build innovative cultures. Don't be fooled by this slim volume, it is jam-packed with innovative techniques and tools! Paul Sloane is described as an entertaining, thought-provoking and motivational speaker. I have never seen him live, but after reading this book, I can believe the hype! He has managed to imbue his enthusiasm into this very practical book!

The book is organized into 6 sections:
- Section 1 - Leading Innovation - How to become an innovative leader, how to kick of an innovative culture.
- Section 2 - Problem Analysis - How to frame problems
- Section 3 - Generating Ideas - How to generate lots of ideas!
- Section 4 - Implementing Innovation Processes - How to structure innovation projects in your organization
- Section 5 - Building a Creative Culture - How to build a culture where creativity thrives
- Section 6 - Personal Creativity - How to develop personal creativity skills

The tools and techniques described are accompanied with stories and examples that drive home the message.

The Take-Aways
I have read many books on innovation and creativity and even I managed to discover some techniques that I had not seen before. Paul is most definitely an expert on innovation and has managed to write an inspirational book on how to become an innovative leader.

If you are a busy manager and want a practical book packed with techniques you can use at work on Monday morning, then buy, read and kick start your innovation engine!

Kes Sampanthar
Inventor of ThinkCube

I love books full of things that work! If you wanted one book to encapsulate creativity and innovation pick this one. My bookshelf is full of most of the books Sloane references, but he compresses it down to "just what you need". My best takeaway was the 26 ways to generate new ideas. I especially like the "Who killed our business exercise." Clearly written, easy to read, succinct and oh so useful. If you are CEO in a fast moving industry, with youthful, brilliant people around you, this is a book you must read and use.

Finally, "Succeeding in America" is a book that teaches us all how to live and work in harmony. Jinsoo Terry's experiences coming to America are both humorous and poignant. She learned the hard way how to succeed in America so that we can learn from her experiences. The best part of this book is that you have a better understanding of human nature and that we all want the same thing: success, hope, love and understanding. The sooner we all read "Succeeding in America" the quicker we will all learn how to have fun working together. It's a great book for understanding that our cultural differences make us unique and special, especially "The Apple Story."

"Jinsoo: Succeeding in America The Jinsoo Way," is an uplifting true life story about one woman's fascinating journey to succeed in business and life despite challenges faced along the way. With a curiosity for people, and culture, and a love of travel, author Jinsoo Terry takes readers on an adventurous tour of her incredible business success by helping others dispel cultural barriers while emphasizing the importance of having fun along the way.

After having received a masters degree in textile engineering from South Korea's Pusan National University, Terry's curiosity of people and culture led her to pursue a career in the United States. Although faced with many challenges, such as learning US customs and culture, Terry's tenacity to succeed in business paid off. Through communication, accepting cultural differences, and an open heart, Terry successfully established one of the most recognizable multicultural education and training services company that helps business executives navigate their way through US customs and culture.

With her "can do" attitude and motivational affirmations, Jinsoo Terry's, "Jinsoo: Succeeding in America the Jinsoo Way," is a must read and teaches all of us that success in business and life, is much greater when balanced with having fun.

"Succeeding in America The Jinsoo Way" is a book that is way beyond educational. It is fun, inspirational, and makes the reader truly believe that if Jinsoo could do it, then you can too. It educates readers how to build their business, start a new career or excel in a career they have already started, be a good communicator, and work well with others - everything that you could possibly need in the business world today. I have read many books about succeeding in the business world and this book by Jinsoo Terry is by far the most entertaining and fun -- which is hard to find in business books today! I would recommend this book to not only people from other countries who are doing business in the US, but for people of all nationalities who want to learn more about themselves, what they are capable of in the business world, and how to make everything they do fun and inspiring.

Jinsoo is such a dynamic personality. She is able to motivate in a fun way. I recommend all her books!

Jinsoo Terry is an inspiration. As a rapper, CEO, author and now comic book creator, she has leaped bounds and reached for the stars. In her book, SUCCEEDING IN AMERICA- The Jinsoo Way, she offers people guidance for succeeding in corporate America while keeping it FUN. She shows you how to build your business, start a career, communicate well with others while sharing her own personal story.

This autobiography reads like it was actually written by Kent Hrbek; it's fun, enjoyable, and not an in-depth introspective look back at his life. It hits the highlights of his career, briefly touches upon his upbringing, and has no tales told out of school from the dugout. If you're looking for depth, don't bother.

Hrbek comes across as a rare athlete who realizes that the important things in life are not being bowed down to and worshiped because he could hit a baseball. He's honest about his love of beer, his family, and not caring that much about conditioning.

Long-time Twins fans like me will relish this, but wish it had just a little more.

I really enjoyed this book for a couple of reasons. First, Kent Hrbek is a really likable guy who isn't out to impress anyone. He is a truly genuine individual, which is admirable and refreshing. He is also very interesting. No, this book isn't written on a graduate level, but who cares? It's about baseball, a team full of good guys, and one fun loving guy in particular. I read this book right before I read the book written by John Schuerholz. Wow, talk about opposites. The "genius" Schuerholz has no clue about things like the Hrbek charm.

After reading 'Tales', I felt like I had actually been in the dugout with the Twins. The book keeps moving, doesn't well on any point too long and provides just the right amount of detail. Hrbek and Brackin have delivered a baseball classic.

Hrbek's antics and honesty come through as genuine. He seems like a guy were he your neighbor you could just walk up to and have a nice, casual conversation. His views on baseball provide insight for the fan from the other side of the stadium fence. I remember watching him as a kid whenever the Twins came to Seattle, and he was always an impressive player. We ran into Hrbek on the street in downtown Seattle one day and he lived-up to his friendly guy image in person too.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in baseball or the Minnesota Twins in particular.

As a Minnesota Twins fan for some forty years, this may be perceived as a somewhat biased view...but I truly don't believe it is. Most of those who follow the game closely, and appreciate its significance on the national psyche for more than a century, will respect this straight-arrow summary--of Kent Hrbek's team, in particular; but, even more importantly, for the significance and integrity of the game in general. Though an unsung hero in terms of individual awards, he was, in the eyes of many objective baseball observers, as good as any--and better than most--first basemen to play the game. And he was an excellent clutch hitter (e.g., his grand slam homerun in the sixth game of the 1987 World Series) who knew the strike zone, and rarely swung at a bad pitch. But, as he emphasizes in his book, his two World Series rings, and the undying support of true baseball fans in the upper Midwest, and throughout the country, totally overshadow the fact that he was, inexplicably, overlooked for the individual honors which, in the view of many, he so richly deserved. He and others refer to his approach to the game as that of a throwback...the type of player from the game's glory days. This is arguably as high a tribute as can be given a player. And, because these qualities are, sadly, in short supply in today's go-for-the-money atmosphere, Kent Hrbek--nearly thirteen years after his early retirement--is still missed by those who love the game... for the game. And for all of those, "Kent Hrbek's Tales from the Minnesota Twins Dugout" is highly recommended. --Ron Howe / Erskine, Minnesota

This book was a great, quick read of antecdotes from Hrbek's career as a Twin. He reveals a lot of suprising off-the-field information that baseball players rarely reveal in career retrospectives. If you were a Twins fan in the glory year runs of 1987 and 1991, you have to check this out.

I went to high school with Howard (Julian) and there are things in the book that friends didn't even know that he was going through, yet her persevered. This is a great read for athletes, teens going through something or employees that need to understand more what it means to be a team player. This book shows how to be a good teammate not only in sports, but in business and in life. Great Read from a great Chicagoan.

This is a book for anyone with dreams, or for someone who just wants to be a better person.

Howard Griffith is a first-class football player. In my honest opinion, Howard is the most underrated football player in the NFL. Year in and year out he is busting his butt for guys like Terrell Davis and Mike Anderson, and not complaining about it. This man made Terrell Davis. And hopefully he will get his pro-bowl before its all over.

Enough about him as a football player, on with the book. In this book, Howard talks about his life and the trials he has been through. This is a story of a man who never lost sight of his goals. While he has had a tough life, he never gave up, and always does his best to help his team - even if that means taking blocking assignments and never getting the ball. "Laying It On The Line, Notes Of A Team Player" teaches people to better themselves... ...to better the world. With his actions speak louder than words attitude, he teaches independance, how to be a person free from following others and just being the best person you can possibly be. He teaches about responsibility and maturity, and taking life seriously.

Reading this book was a turning point in my life. Before i read it, I was, simply stated, and punk kid. This book taught me the importance in doing your very best at everything you do and how important things like you education are to you. He shows you how you can be indepent but still conform, not to stick out. After reading this, It opened my mind really. Before hand I was quick to judge just about anyone that didn't believe exactly how I felt. Now I think empathatically, and am not so quick to judge. I know it's irrelavant, but its amazing what certain situation you can be put in can change you life around in a totally different manor.

Props to Howard Griffith with this truly inspiring story. This is a perfect book for anyone with dreams, and that is willing to work. Howard Griffith's book deserves every 5 stars I gave it, maybe more (if I could). Simply stated, this book can change you life.

This self-proclaimed bookworm ranks this book as one of her all-time favorites. To those who aren't necessarily interested in football, to those who don't understand football, and for those who don't even know what football is, believe me when I say, you will undoubtedly connect with some, if not all of this autobiography. Indulge yourself in this down-to-earth, eye-opening, and often comedic drama that chronicles the ups and downs of life, as it relates to Griffith's chosen career of football. I see this book as more of the spiritual journey of a young man's life, explained through the metaphor of football. It could easily be a training development manual for any business consisting of more than one person - it's all about teamwork and the success, respect, honor and glory that can be achieved if all involved are confident and secure with their individual roles and truly understand the concept of "team." If you need to be "pumped up" and inspired about anything you're trying to accomplish in your life right now, I suggest you purchase this book - it just may be the medicine you need.

This a truly remarkable account of Griffith's story and the obstacles that he's faced to get where he is today(the best fullback in the NFL). There were so many points in his life that he could have given up--but he didn't. Don't think that it's your "typically" sports book--it's not! This book is for anyone that aspires to fulfill their dream. I highly recommend this book. Kudos to Griffith!!!

As a professional book reviewer and avid reader, all I can say is: It's about time that a story like Griffith's gets some "air-time." LAYING IT ON THE LINE is uplifting and inspiring, while dispeling many of the myths about players in the NFL. It highlights the positive aspects of professional sports and reveals important ways in which team sports can develop one's mental and physical "game." Griffith is a living example of what it means to be a true champion, on and off the field. This book's a winner!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to buy the book for my doctoral class.

It must have been a hard book to find. Once I finally received it it was in great condtion. I have no complaints. I took off one star because it took so long.

This book is great! The authors did a fantastic job. I'm going to be buying a few more...

There have been a lot of books published concerning teams and how to form them over the past decade, but this book, Leading Organizations from the Inside Out, goes a few steps further by providing specific tools and processes on how to create and utilize Action-Learning Teams (ALTs). These ALTs (as the book calls them) are teams formed to address important persistent problems or organizational challenges that a company may face. ALTs are based on "learning characterized by reflection in action"; or simply stated, they are internal teams chartered to focus and hone down a specific problem or process gap and then fix it. ALTs can do what most of us rarely do in our day-to-day efforts at work. They can helicopter above the canopy of the company's forest and get a clear picture by looking from the outside in as to what's wrong and what corrective actions will work. Whereas management may have a hunch as to the problem, the ALT deftly puts a finger on it. In our, quick time-to-market, immediate gratification world the ALT capability is a potent tool.

The book starts off slow so you have to be patient, but once you get past Chapter One, this book contains a great nest of resources. It has several effective tools (with some bonus tools in the Supplement) which any manager or team leader can use, and it connects the reader to further research and information. It has the right amount of effective information to create and run an Action-Learning Team. And good news! The Clue Train Manifesto stopped here since later chapters include how to execute an ALT from cyberspace and how to further knowledge worker development.

From my 19 years of personal experience in the corporate world participating on ALT-like teams, sponsoring ALT-like teams, and just being in the company population receiving the benefits of an ALT-like team, I can tell you that they are by far the fastest and most effective way to achieving a "break through" on difficult, persistent problems which a company may face. Especially in a marketplace where world competition is becoming exceedingly tough........ Action-Learning Teams might just make a difference between success and failure.

LaRue, Childs, and Larson provide an easy to read, less than 200 page book, that skillfully weaves Action Learning Teams (ALT) into knowledge management, creating knowledge based action learning teams. This is truly a hands-on guidebook with real world examples that clearly describe the stages and processes of implementing organizational change using ALTs. ALTs can shorten the time needed to effectively implement change initiatives in an organization by helping the practitioner understand both the behavioral and operational aspects of organizational change. ALTs will help ensure that the knowledge of the team is translated into action that makes a real difference for an organization.

The forward by Marshall Goldsmith prepares the reader for what is in store by asking the question; "Who are knowledge workers", and how does one tell them what to do when they may know more than their manager does. The process of Action Learning Teams taps into that knowledge to take the organization to the next level. This book has been adopted as part of the curriculum at the University of Phoenix in their Doctorate of Management second year leadership class. Don't let that concern you though if you don't think that is the level you are looking for, as the book is easy to read and follow. Major General Robert Ivany, recently retired President of the U.S. Army War College also provides a chapter that describes how Action Learning Teams played a vital role in fundamentally transforming the U.S. Army. Experiences from other organizations provide real world examples that can be immediately put to use.

The book integrates both behavioral and operational dimensions of team development within four key phases of the change process: Awareness, Design, Deployment, and Integration. I have already used many of these concepts in my work on a Change Management team government organization. I even gave a copy of the book to my boss.

My name is Chris Gibbs (Chairman/CEO) of Diversified Investments & Development, LLC. of Knoxville, Tennessee. I consider myself a lifelong learner, as I am currently finishing a dissertation in relation to requirements for a Doctorate in Leadership from the University of Phoenix. I hold degrees in Finance, Masters of Business Administration, Masters in Banking, and Doctoral work in Economics from Lincoln Memorial University, East Tennessee State University, Louisiana State University, and Middle Tennessee State University, respectively.

My organization is involved in the food, lodging, and land development businesses. We had certain re-structuring goals to limit our involvement in day to day operations in the food and lodging businesses by using outside management and increase our land development inventory. Within only months of completing training with Bruce LaRue (one of the books Authors) and Richard Schuttler (Executive Coach and Consultant www.orgtroubleshooter.org) certain key organizational goals were reached early. With the material from this book and organizational training programs, my organization is thriving at a new profitability level, as well as employee and organizational value added systems continue to improve for all stakeholders.

Specific book comments:

1. How did you find out about the book? Through research in the area of Leading Organizations, I was attracted to this books content. Bruce LaRue, PhD is a colleague of Richard Schuttler, PhD, which is a professional Executive Coach that has consulted with me over the past couple of years. When I mentioned the book to Rich, he immediately reached out to Bruce and we entered into an agreement to utilize this book along with extensive works of Rich to transform my organization into a model of success that utilized its existing team and strengths. I will never forget the comment Rich made to me one day about the well known "corporate box," if you are thinking about thinking outside the box, you are still in the box. Therefore this book and training programs like Rich and Bruce present will allow the "Leader of the Future" to not confine their thought process to any box or obstacle."

2. The initial reading of the book presents the four basics to ALT (Action Learning Teams) and allows one to understand in the early reading of where their organization is today and what it will take to advance to a higher level of effectiveness and performance in the future.

3. A great suggestion is for the leader to play the role as coach and not BOSS. This is where Rich and Bruce developed the BUCKET concept that allowed everyone to assume responsibilities and each other member know who is responsible for what task within the organization. This supports the concept in the book on encouraging team members to focus on self improvement as they are accountable to the other team members in making sure their individual bucket is managed properly to benefit the overall organization. "This is like an old fire line where everyone is passing the buckets of water to put out a fire. If one person drops their bucket the fire can spread out of control. Therefore, proper management of the individual buckets maintains proper fire management without a fire ever arising, "Proactive Management." ALT's will make a difference if you understand how to make them work effectively.

4. An organizational leader and ALT "Coach" must truly commit to the Belief Model presented within the book. The advantage I had from the book material was the actual training program developed by Rich and Bruce, where I had to commit to making this reality before I could ever expect positive results. If the Coach cannot commit to taking a Belief to Potential to Action to Results than I question this leader's ability to be the Coach required for an effective ALT. I actually included all internal and external affiliate team leaders in the training process to make sure all areas and entities that affect my businesses were well informed of my organizations strategic plan and goals.

5. The PIP was completed at the end of the training and we found by our proactive implementation of this text material and consulting program that we were well on our way to achieving an organizational structure and performance level 1 year ahead of schedule.

6. Chapter 4 on Deployment should be arranged on a Cork Board in the Coaches office to read each morning, as a "Daily Devotional." Coaches/Leaders to often forget that by keeping there own skills focused and sharp, spill over to the actions and result of the ALT members.

7. The "Value Network" concept truly supported my personal philosophy of not deleting the most important life source of all organizations "PROFIT." An excellent Coach/Leader will be more effective with ALT teams and the process of strategic planning by honestly admitting we must make a profit, therefore their actions that support the material within this text will be more reality driven and not viewed as corporate fluff to keep morale at a moderate level of acceptance. Honesty is the first step in leading a successful organization.

8. Closing Comments: As we know and the book points out in Table format, today's business "Demands" are different from years past. This book is an excellent training tool for organizations at various levels including infancy, transitional businesses experiencing sales growth that could lead to dysfunctional performance without proper planning, and successful businesses that need to maintain and deal with everyday tumultuous situations. "A must read book for the true lifelong learner and concerned leader of the future." Also, follow-up with training to really experience the change and improvements you can experience through ALT implementation.

10 years ago when I bought this book at my local Target and had it signed by both authors, my first grandson was mere days old and I bought it for the future. The future is NOW. My grandsons are playing baseball in the same park that the '92 and '93 winning teams came from so the book has a very special meaning. Jeff Burroughs and Tom Hennessy's description of the actions of Little Leaguers, Coaches, Managers and officials is dead on, even now 10 years later. When I was reading this book, I was either laughing hysterically, trying to read bits and pieces aloud to "Grandpa" or nodding in total agreement and understanding. This is a must read for every Little League Parent/Grandparent, but for pete's sake, don't let the kids read it!

This book is a classic. I lived through these stories and they are all true. It was the greatest year of my life being a Long Beach Little League World Champ, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This book allows me to remember everything that happened in the summer of '93. I get goosebumps thinking about it. I loved it! I recommend for everyone to give this book a read.

After reading this book I think everyone should! This book is a great book about the adventure in winning the Little Leauge World Series two years in a row. This book gives a great description on all the players and other coaches. This book helped me believ e you can do anything if you really work hard towards your goals!!!! I learned many pointers off this book and enjoyed reading it!!!!!! I suggest everybody should read this book!

For those involved in the national organization of Little League, especially at the all-star level, this is a very entertaining book. Lots of interesting details about the protocol and the accomodations at the regional level and also at Williamsport. Burroughs is very funny describing his escapades as a coach, dealing with all of the classic issues from managing disgruntled parents to dealing with kids who are slightly left-of-center. If you are a Little League addict, I recommend this book!

The Little Team That Could was pure enjoyment. Jeff Burroughs gives an honest, balanced account of the 1992-1993 Long Beach Little League All-Star teams that reached the pinnacle of success. He describes the thrill of victory and the joy of working with young people. At the same time, he tells about the aggravation of dealing with some Little League parents, officials, and umpires. As a manager in the Little League program for 17 years, I could relate to both the good and the bad. I am so glad I found this book on amazon.com. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any Little League coach, parent, or player.

I honestly could not put it down. I have read books before where I get through a few chapters and I stop and never pick it back up. This book was different. I was VERY interested in what would happen at the end between the characters. The author really mad me feel the emotions of the two characters. I will be reading it again in the near future. Great job to the author!

While the story may have been fiction it was very much something I could really imagine happening. The storyline was very easy to follow and K A Jones did an excellent job of leading you up to the edge and then letting your imagination take over. Never raunchy or distasteful, it subtly explored real life challenges in a very entertaining way.

The characters were very strong but she also exposed their vulnerability and the setting was perfect. Once you start, not finishing isn't an option.

Although I like a little more backstory with my romances (hence the 4 stars instead of 5), I really enjoyed this book. There is nothing raunchy about it, but it is very teasing and fun. The playfulness, tension, and tenderness between the two characters develops well throughout the book and sets a very good tone, not only for this work but for future books! I hope she writes quickly now because I can't wait to pick up the next one.

I really enjoyed reading this book because the two main characters are so colorful and full of personality; you just want them to be together from the very beginning and you can tell that there's some serious conflict, and also an underlying love between them both, but they're so stubborn, and you're never really quite sure if they'll ever work it out. The story takes place in a canyon paradise where nature is at its best (and worst). The wilderness is all around them, and people (ranchers) in the neighboring areas are involved with things that ranchers do best, like putting on rodeos, dealing with horses and cattle, farmland, etc., which gives the story a very nice "cowboy" flavor. The reader can definitely feel the magnetism that occurs between them from the moment they are "thrown" together by the accident which occurs at the beginning of the story, as if by destiny. But there's history between them, there's unfinished business between these two, and you can hardly wait to "experience" all the juicy details!

I like the way that K.A. Jones wrote this book because she has good tasteful writing style--none of that risqué, raunchy, sleazy content; but instead, she writes very tastefully, descriptively, almost teasingly, that keeps the reader yearning for Meg and Evan's love to develop and explode. Jones describes details of each moment in a way that it's really like watching a good movie in the mind's eye. She gives you all the details; the reader can literally see, smell, hear, taste, and feel their way through the story. In fact, this would make a very good movie--very clean, fun, exciting love story! I loved the book and want to read more like this one--can't wait for Jones's next one!

This is the first time I've read KA Jones, and I loved it.
This was a book that I picked up on a whim while in the bookstore because I had a few extra dollars and I thought that it might be mildly entertaining. It has one of those fluff covers that seems to denote a certain style of romance that is usually rather light. As a result of my buying impulse, I was surprised to find myself reading a very entertaining book and discovered a new favorite author.
The main characters are engaging, the dialogue is fast-paced and realistic
I wound up liking the characters in the book, liking the way the relationship developed, liking their quirks. It's one of those books that once you start it, you have to finish it.
I enjoyed this book. I thought the characters really clicked together.
Jones also does a good job of developing the romance between Meg and Evan -- Both Meg and Evan have to work through some issues. Those issues are nothing new in romances -- Still, Evan and Meg's relationship is so much fun, that you're rooting for them the entire time.

Most often it is the unimportant details that hold up a workable project. By zeroing in on the problem or what is to be accomplished, the problem answers itself. This book helps get to the Nitty-Gritty!

I'd like to comment on this book as it has assisted our group at work to organize our thoughts, simplify our approaches to planning and become focus oriented in executing projects. Thank you!

Unlike many self-help books (many of them far more costly) that talk AT you but don't really focus on the specific challenge you are stuck on, The Magic Megaphone actually talks you THROUGH getting your projects unstuck and back on track...in under 6o minutes! The book offers easy-to-follow examples, and guides you through every one of the simple five steps involved with "megaphoning" yourself (and your team) to getting unstuck and on the path to success. Nick Montoya's process is explained in clear terms, with real-world examples from other "megaphoners" who also were "stuck" on various projects.

Reading The Magic Megaphone is money and time well spent...albeit less than one hour worth of time! How many other books can make a difference in your life so quickly (within an hour)? The Magic Megaphone is truly in a league of its own!

The Magic Megaphone is also a perfect holiday, birthday or graduation gift for that loved one, family member, friend or manager who can use a little help getting "unstuck and back on track." I put the principles taught in the book to use and have seen unbelievably quick results. Nick Montoya and The Magic Megaphone truly uphold the mantra that "It's simple. It's effective. It works like MAGIC!"

Where was this book (and method) years ago? After reading this my first thoughts were of the countless hours I have spent in meetings about projects that went nowhere! I love the simple, easy to use outline and having the case studies available to refer to. As a consultant who now has to manage projects on behalf of clients, this is a book I am going to pass on to each of them. This process is something every project team can use and in my opinion, every project team should use. Get unstuck...get this book and we'll all move along faster with our projects!

I have to say the Magic Megaphone is a very simple and easy project management process. It's easy to glance at the process and possibly dismiss it as useless. I almost did. I'm very critical at times and maybe even a bit skeptical. Once I learned the process, my skepticism was silenced. It's a simple tool, and sometimes the simplest tools are the ones you can't do without. You don't hear people dismissing the lever or the wheel because they're not complicated enough. Allow me to share some of my insight into the process.

When creating a Magic Megaphone, you go through 5 steps. By the end of those 5 steps, you've brainstormed the answers to some questions that are important to the success of your project. Step 1 is short and sweet - you're describing your mission in a sentence. Step 5 can be pretty involved - you're developing a plan of action.

Step 5, your Mega Plan, will end up being the most important part of your Megaphone. It's the component that will get you unstuck and back into action. If the project is new and you haven't even started it yet, the Mega Plan will make sure you don't ever get stuck. It's hard to get stuck when you always know your next step!

In order to get the best Mega Plan possible, Steps 1 through 4 are invaluable. Those steps truly give you the tools to construct the Mega Plan that will get your project to the finish line with the best possible results. That's why it's a p-r-o-c-e-s-s with 5 steps, not just 1.

Magic Megaphones aren't rocket science. They're far from it. Once you really know how to construct these things, you can do them in a matter of minutes. You'll use it all the time because it's an effective way to manage your projects, big or small. It's about getting organized, understanding what's important, and getting into action.

I must admit that I bought this book as a Spartan fan expecting pictures and statistics. To my pleasant surprise, there were incredible stories about a history that is richer than I ever imagined. This book is a must have for Spartan Fans and Basketball Fans alike!

If you like Michigan State or college basketball, this book is a must read. The stories and photos are fabulous. I laughed and cried. Every Spartan should have a copy. So should every Wolverine.

If you like Michigan State or college basketball, this book is a must read. The stories and photos are fabulous. I laughed and cried. Every Spartan should have a copy. So should every Wolverine.

This is a great book! It's as simple as that. Great stories, interesting pictures, this book has it all. A great book for any Spartan fan as well as any fan of college basketball.

This is a great book for any Spartan fan. The writers do a wonderful job. The book tells about the best players, games, and seasons in Spartan basketball history.