Book Description
You may not be aware of it, but a very powerful force is at work in your life.
It's called the Law of Attraction and right now it is attracting people, jobs, situations and relationships in your life - not all of them good!
If your life feels as if it has turned south and taken on the characteristics of a bad soap opera, it's time to pick up this book.
Customer Reviews:
Best LOA book out there.......2007-10-18
I don't think the LOA works but this book explains it well and is easy to read.
Law of Attraction.......2007-10-18
Not very good at all. There are other books on the subject( such as The Secret) that are much better. This read like a cheap knock-off!
Effortless Reading.......2007-10-14
I have read several books on the subject of the law of attraction and this one by far is the best written. The author's writing style is so very easy to follow and understand. The book can easily be read in an hour or so all the while comprehending and processing his excellent advice. I highly recommend this book especially if you are just starting to investigate this idea. Mr. Losier's writing style flows so nicely and he presents ideas clearly so they are easy to understand and incorporate into life. I believe this book will give you a good foundation on which to build your own ways to attract things into your life.
Law of Attraction.......2007-10-11
This is one of the most powerful tools I have come across in the personal development realm. Michael Losier is concise, to the point and makes it easy to follow the principles laid out. If you want to get to another level in your life whether, business, financial, relationship or other, this and Understanding: Train of Thought are the books for you.
Skip this one - there are much better books out there!.......2007-10-10
I've been listening to this guy drone on for about the last hour and I just can't take it any more. I am listing mine right back in the Used Copies for sale section. This guy obviously likes to make lists, enjoys lists, and finds lists fascinating. I do not.
He can't just make a strong point about something and move on, instead he has to support his conclusions with a detailed list of every possible thing associated with that point. I counted 17 items in mercilessly detailed list of how to train your mind to think about the LOA when he could have made the same point in a single, well-worded sentence. It's like he needed to flesh out the book so he decided to stretch out every idea to it's ultimate conclusion instead of giving you genuinely useful information and techniques. I think the LOA is fantastic, but I don't think this is a very good resource to learn about it. I just found it repetitive and annoying.
Book Description
Success is simple, and scientifically reproducible, if you know the 5 Laws
Simpleology proves that success and happiness are easier to achieve than most people think they are. In fact, people can almost guarantee their own success simply by following a few simple rules. These "5 Laws of Simpleology" aren't new; they've been around forever. Throughout history, these 5 laws have helped the world's greatest minds amass fortunes and forge new paths. But until now, no one has committed them to paper in so simple and straightforward a style as Mark Joyner has here. Applicable to any challenge or goal and irrefutably commonsense, these 5 laws form the basis for almost any successful person or endeavor. Simpleology explains the 5 laws in detail and shows readers how to apply them to every aspect of their lives.
Mark Joyner (Auckland, New Zealand) is a leading authority on Internet marketing. The former CEO of Aesop Marketing Corp., he is the author of four previous books, including The Irresistible Offer (0-471-73894-8) and The Great Formula (0-471-77823-0), both from Wiley.
Customer Reviews:
Yuck! Please Please Don't Waste Your Time On This!!!.......2007-10-17
This book was so bad I felt like throwing up! Please don't waste your time and thus part of the world's potentially productive output reading this book. You'd do better if you simply slept instead! Read the other reviews to know more about what's in it if you have to waste time even on the reviews.
Note: This is the first review I have ever written and it is because this book was just so bad I felt compelled to log in, sign up for posting online reviews and actually take time out to write one!
A Different Way to Look at Things.......2007-10-05
I "read" Simnpleology in my car by listening to the CD version. I found it motivating and thought it provided a different way of looking at most things in life. It is accompanied by a free web site and several free tools. There is also a companion course (also free) that helps you put what you have heard into practice.
Excellent information & well written.......2007-10-02
Overall an enjoyable read. Delivers what is promised. Geeks will probably enjoy it the most.
How To Achieve Success.......2007-09-29
What do you do if you have a few sensible but very commonplace platitudes on setting and
achieving goals and you're writing a book? Worse what do you do if your "five laws", the
very heart of your "simple science for getting what you want" could easily fit on one or
two pages? Say you've already tried short one-sentence paragraphs that you double or triple
space, added some cartoons, and you've still only filled about a dozen pages?
First Law: You don't take the shortest or straightest path. Put your laws at the back of the book. Make 'em wait for the closing so you don't have to include any detailed real world examples of how to attain that "dream home" or "superhot lover."
Second Law: Write chapters that could be related to the topic. Google "A List of Fallacious Arguments" or dig up your old Philosophy 101 textbook out of the garage. Tell your readers you're "going to throw them a lifeline."
Third Law: Focus your attention on something "real world." Create a strawman who disagrees with your politics. He's a victim of "groupthink" and a user of "ad hominem attacks". And because everyone reading your book wants your political opinions, keep giving them these examples. If anyone wonders why your examples are virtually always negative examples, you can "appeal to authority". Accuse them of labeling you.
Fourth Law: Focus your energy. Although this law could easily have been included into the Third Law, it would deprive you of a law. Basically repeat some more slightly relevant ideas. Repeat them.
Fifth Law: Big Finish. Tell them stuff that - unless they're 13-years-old - they already know about straight lines, clear goals, focused attention and energy. And end with something like "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." That could be a pillar of your science alone!
Done.
Almost.
Advise them to spam email their friends and coworkers to buy the book, and then to tell
their friends to buy and...
That should be the Sixth Law!
way to simple.......2007-09-27
Simpleology is the truth. Written by a simple mind. Keep it simple and just don't bother reading.
Book Description
The Only Three Questions That Count is the first book to show you how to think about investing for yourself and develop innovative ways to understand and profit from the markets. The only way to consistently beat the markets is by knowing something others don’t know. This book will show you how to do just that by using three simple questions. You’ll see why CNBC’s Mad Money host and money manager James J. Cramer says, "I believe that reading his book may be the single best thing you could do this year to make yourself a better investor.
In The Only Three Questions That Count, Ken Fisher challenges the conventional wisdoms of investing, overturns glib theories with hard facts, and blows up complacent beliefs about money and the markets. Ultimately, he says, the key to successful investing is daring to challenge yourself and whatever you believe to be true. Packed with more than 100 visuals, usable tools, and a glossary, The Only Three Questions That Count is an entertaining and educational experience in the markets unlike any other, giving you an opportunity to reap the huge rewards that only the markets can offer.
Customer Reviews:
Laugh Out Loud.......2007-10-12
I stumbled across this book in an airport by accident and I am glad I did. I work in a finance-related industry and picked up the book to reacquaint myself with some terminology and topics. I expected the book to be dry, academic and self-assertive (i.e. pompous) - potentially a sleep-aid on my flight. But I ended up almost finishing the entire thing!
There are parts in the book where it seems like the author is trying to cram too much in, but the book does offer some really interesting historical data and economic insights. Plus, the book was hilarious. I don't remember the last time a financial book made me laugh OUT LOUD! For example, in a section on alternative energy the author contemplates a future where cars run on Skittles engines.
Maybe the author's tone on certain topics can be off-putting to some readers -- there are humorous, but disparaging remarks that may not be entirely PC. But if you take them for their entertainment value and read between the lines, you'll discover a lot of views that are different from industry conventions - and that makes this a worthwhile read.
very useful reference book.......2007-10-11
I am an experienced mutual fund investor - e.g., newspaper reader, book reader, and Morningstar subscriber - who wants better to understand financial institutions and processes. This book proved excellent for my purposes.
I did not read this book for secrets to success. Perhaps there are some such secrets in there - the author seems to think so.
Rather, I found valuable explanations of key concepts that one encounters in making investment decisions. For example, although already versed in some differences between value and growth stocks (and funds), from this book I learned how each category relates to interest rates, a very timely issue at present. Similarly, I gained understanding of how trade deficits fit in the investment picture, and many, many other topics.
In sum, it's easy to overlook the ego problems that trouble some reviewers, and find gems of wisdom throughout this book.
Great book, one of the best I've read in a while .......2007-09-03
I consider myself fairly well read when it comes to investing, but I was really suprised by this book.
I've poured through books by and about Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Jim Rogers, some of the new classics (Market Wizards by Schwager) and some of the old classics that never go out of style (Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, Money Game). I was actually just browsing through my local bookstore when I saw this.
Fisher's well known for his advertising. His ads though, and his style turned me off (somewhat analogous to a doctor that advertises on a bus stop or a lawyer advertising in the back of a phone book, you just don't quit trust it).
He's got some real gems in here though. The book could have been about 150 pages shorter, but the essence of it, that the only way to beat the market is to know something that others don't, is spot on.
If you answer his 3 questions before investing (especially #3, what is your brain doing to mess you up), you'll be well ahead of the game.
It's amazing that people will invest huge sums of money in the market, and not even know what the biases are that cause misjudgement. Fisher does a beautiful job of reducing things down to "primitive man", and what was great for hunter gatherers 50,000 years ago hunting lions is terrible for your portfolio.
Still, I think the book falls into some traps that most other investment books fall into:
-Some of it is too neat, too ivory tower, too clean and mathematical. There's no people in the book, there are no memories.
For example, he thinks stocks have no correlation to past results. The odds of a stock moving tomorrow up or down are 50-50.
But investors have memories. Investors got scarred for life after the '29 crash, they never felt the same way about stocks again. I don't think stocks have a 50-50 chance of moving up or down after that. It also doesn't take into account where companies are in their life cycle. It doesn't take into account competitive advantage (or lack thereof).
-A direct quote from the book..."Since 1926, there have been 66 15 year rolling time periods. In 61 of them (92%), stocks beat bonds, returning an average of 481% while bonds returned 150%"
He then adds to the arguement, and basically says stocks always outperform bonds, buy stocks. But most people get into stocks at the wrong time! There's no mention of valuation, there's no mention that people buy stocks when everyone else is buying them.
People can and do lose money...if you bought stocks in the mid 20's or later, you didn't break even for 20 years. If you bought stocks during the raging bull market of the 60's and held, you got killed. The DOW was at 700 in the early 60's and 800 in the early 80's, after some grueling declines. Business Week ran their famous (infamous) cover in 1979, "The Death of Equities". People were putting their retirement money into gold and diamonds back then.
People do not buy stocks equally during all time periods. There's some other arguements made that can be a little dangerous. Some of the arguement made about the deficit, the declining dollar, I don't know.
Fisher is obviously brilliant, he's on the Forbes 400, but no one should be above questioning or critical thinking. Absolutely come to your own conclusions. I don't think some of the arguements will hold up in 15-20 years.
But still, it's well worth adding to your library. Some of the key chapters should be re-read many times to get all the nuances.
No real help here!.......2007-09-03
Fisher describes a number of interesting stock market fallacies and why they should be ignored in any serious investing plan, and also illustrates some common emotional problems that plague a large percentage of investors. He describes several admittedly outdated fundamental indicators which, although possibly of some academic interest, are no longer useful, as they now have been discounted by the market.
He suggests that the individual investor select an index and track his or her performance with respect to this index, presumably taking advantage of knowing what most other investors do not. Most unfortunately, the methodology of attaining this precious knowledge is not made clear, at least to me. If an investor knows important details about equity issues that are not generally known, then he or she has no need of this book!
The writing style of Fisher, while occasionally entertaining, contains a good deal of self-serving statements, and, as commented by others, the basic information could be provided by perhaps one quarter the number of pages.
very informative.......2007-08-28
I've read a lot of finance books in my day but this one takes a whole other approach. Instead of the same old conventional methods of analyzing the stock market through ratios and fundamentals, this book takes you through how to look at the market differently. The Only Three Questions shows you the power of sentiment on the market and specifically how to gauge investor sentiment and use it to your advantage. While the book is full of data and graphs, it also is a surprisingly humorous and enjoyable read. If you're looking for a completely different investment strategy, this book is for you.
Average customer rating:
- It's time to move beyond this book!
- The image on the cover says it all
- If it's free, fine, but probably not worth more than four bucks
- MAKES PREMOM COMFORTABLE
- Don't get it!
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What to Expect When You're Expecting, Third Edition
Heidi Murkoff ,
Arlene Eisenberg , and
Sandee Hathaway
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
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Binding: Paperback
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The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be, Second Edition
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Your Pregnancy Week by Week, Fifth Edition
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Accessories:
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Baby Plus Prenatal Education System
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MOBI Stroller & Pathway Light
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What to Expect the First Year, Second Ed
Product Features:
- Everything a parent needs to know about the whole parenting lifestyle
- Black and white illustrations
- Information on working while pregnant
- Attention is paid to pre-conception, alternative families, second pregnancies
- Also teaches about HMOs, role of the father and overall lifestyle
ASIN: 0761121323 |
Product Description
The third edition of Americas bestseller, What to Expect When You're Expecting, is updated and is revised with better features for expecting families. The authors are very experienced including Heidi Murkoff, an established writer, and Sandee Hathaway, holder of B.S. in Nursing from Boston University and they have quite a bit to say about this book. Arlene Eisenberg also puts her two cents in. The What to Expect When You're Expecting books has more in-depth coverage of complementary and alternative birthing. Greater detail is also give to the way families handle everything from second pregnancies to HMOs. Workman Publishing Company publishes books that are insightful and informative.
Amazon.com
Eighteen years after it first hit the shelves and having sold more than 10 million copies, What to Expect When You're Expecting is still on nearly every mother-to-be's reading list. This completely revised and updated edition is packed with answers to hundreds of questions and worries expectant parents may have. The information is presented in a month-by-month format starting with planning a pregnancy and choosing a practitioner, and follows through to six weeks after delivery. Each chapter begins with an explanation of what to expect at a particular month's prenatal visit and a brief description of how mom and baby are growing and changing before getting to the heart of the matter: What You May Be Concerned About. Topics are presented as questions ranging from "Should I be taking vitamins?" to "What if I forget everything I learn in childbirth education class?" to "Will I be able to breastfeed?" The answers are generally reassuring and provide enough information to soothe a worried mom between prenatal visits. Despite the reassuring answers, however, the sheer volume of worries discussed may alarm an otherwise calm mom-to-be.
The book also features a complete nutrition plan (though many women may find it difficult to follow), a special chapter just for expectant dads, and extensive information about dealing with minor illnesses, chronic conditions, and pregnancy complications. What to Expect has guided countless women through their pregnancies and makes an informative addition to the mainstream pregnancy and childbirth bookshelf. --Jennifer Lindsay
Customer Reviews:
It's time to move beyond this book!.......2007-10-19
The only reason this book has sold so many copies is that most OBGYN offices give it away. This book is a study in how not to have a natural, joyous pregnancy and birth.
The image on the cover says it all.......2007-10-13
Take a look at the coverart and you'll get an accurate feel for the book. The woman looks completely miserable and worried. Exactly how you'll feel when your through reading the book. The condescending attitude of the author and anxiety-producing information in the book is enough to make any mother-to-be feel like she is an inadequate "little woman". Also, the cover art is so outdated...looks like all pregnant women should look frumpy and wear clothes from 20 years ago. The message -- you are not strong and confident. And forget sexy. The quilted background and rocking chair top it all off. Pregnant women, stay home and sew, but only after you are done cooking and cleaning for your "husband." If you don't have a "husband", for shame! The cover art of the book is a big clue that the book is outdated and better suited to the 1980s.
Don't waste your money.
If it's free, fine, but probably not worth more than four bucks.......2007-10-06
When I was not pregnant I thought of this as THE book for pregnant women. Once I got pregnant I realized that it left a lot of holes in the story, had a weird flow to it, and really only made two or three points over and over and over and over.
If you're looking for a gift for your baby-crazy friend who won't be having kids anytime really soon but still wants to dream, get this. If you want something for your pregnant friend, don't waste your money.
There are a million other books with actual information, organized in a logical manner, and displayed in a slightly less "friend-y" way. Please, go for them first and if you still feel like you need this one after reading a real reference (perhaps written by medical professionals) go ahead and buy this. But don't pay full price, I beg you.
MAKES PREMOM COMFORTABLE.......2007-10-04
good...understandable because it's based on writer's and other's experiences. you can read about pre mom's condition by month.
Don't get it!.......2007-10-04
This book almost drove me out of my mind. When it is not preaching at you about all the things you should do (like eat more vegetables than you can fathom while vomiting non-stop and wanting to eat nothing but fried chicken and rice), it is offending your intelligence with little nuggets of "wisdom," like telling you that if you drank one margarita before you knew you were pregnant, it probably doesn't matter, but you should stop drinking now. It states the obvious over and over, and I found it just was not all that helpful. Still, I read it from cover to cover, and I vowed to set it on fire the minute I got home from the hospital. My mother beat me to it, tossing it before the baby came. She said it was making me crazy, and the nurses at the hospital said that it makes EVERYONE crazy. I think the best thing to do is to listen to your health-care provider. This book made me feel very bad. Plus, that whole "earth mother" lady on the cover just annoyed me every time I saw her.
Book Description
The United States is one of the most religious places on earth, but it is also a nation of shocking religious illiteracy.
- Only 10 percent of American teenagers can name all five major world religions and 15 percent cannot name any.
- Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that the Bible holds the answers to all or most of life's basic questions, yet only half of American adults can name even one of the four gospels and most Americans cannot name the first book of the Bible.
Despite this lack of basic knowledge, politicians and pundits continue to root public policy arguments in religious rhetoric whose meanings are missed—or misinterpreted—by the vast majority of Americans.
"We have a major civic problem on our hands," says religion scholar Stephen Prothero. He makes the provocative case that to remedy this problem, we should return to teaching religion in the public schools. Alongside "reading, writing, and arithmetic," religion ought to become the "Fourth R" of American education.
Many believe that America's descent into religious illiteracy was the doing of activist judges and secularists hell-bent on banishing religion from the public square. Prothero reveals that this is a profound misunderstanding. "In one of the great ironies of American religious history," Prothero writes, "it was the nation's most fervent people of faith who steered us down the road to religious illiteracy. Just how that happened is one of the stories this book has to tell."
Prothero avoids the trap of religious relativism by addressing both the core tenets of the world's major religions and the real differences among them. Complete with a dictionary of the key beliefs, characters, and stories of Christianity, Islam, and other religions, Religious Literacy reveals what every American needs to know in order to confront the domestic and foreign challenges facing this country today.
Customer Reviews:
A misleading book, should have been titled "Christian Literacy".......2007-10-08
I was so upset with this book. Even the cover is misleading. The first half of this work is basically a history of Christianity in AMERICA (and often you feel that the author is waxing nalstalgic for the good 'ol days of "Christian" America) and then the second half is a mediocre dictionary of Religion. Money would be better spend on a cheap dictionary of Eastern or world religion. If this book had been marketed as "Religious Literacy for Christians" I would understand the direction of the book. As it is, I felt like this book was marketed as an attempt to pull in the reader (such as myself) who is interested in expanding their comprehension of WORLD religions, but once having your attention it tries to convice you that we are living in a Christian country and that it has always been so.
Makes the case but never tells us *what* we need to know.......2007-09-27
Despite the lack of religion taught in public schools or the anti-relgion impressions given by the media, America is a very religious nation. It was founded by religious people and it's history is entwined with religon. Even today, politicians frequently invoke religion and cite scriptural references and most Americans will report that they regularly attend religious services and pray. The problem is that not many of those people actually have much religious knowledge (an assertion supported by a just-released Sept 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center). Few can name all Ten Commandments or any Apostles, not to mention even cursory knowledge about Eastern religions. Contrast this with Europeans, who have broad religious knowledge but don't attend church or pray. Mr. Prothero explains how religion factored in early American life, the affects of secularism and how America shifted away from valuing religious knowledge, and clears up the confusion over the legalities of teaching religion. He also makes a case for the need for greater religious literacy without showing any favoritism.
The problem is that the title is terribly misleading: "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - and Doesn't" infers that this book will tell us what we NEED to know. It doesn't. It sounds like I know more about scriptures and my own church than most people do about theirs, but I know very little about other churches. I would like to learn some basics about Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Christian religions such as the Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelicals and was hoping for summaries to help me better understand. All the book has to offer is a "dictionary" that was nice, but not really what I was hoping for. I already agree with the author that knowledge of religion is lacking - myself included - but the book doesn't really take the next step. Mr. Prothero complains that even many churches today teach only broad "touchy-feely" concepts like "love" and "Jesus" but fail to impart a deeper understanding, but he's guilty of the same sin.
The discussions of religion in Colonial America and how we became a secular nation was interesting, but I think most people who pick up this book will also agree with the author, and as such it ends up being little more than preaching to the choir.
disguised argument.... .......2007-09-13
The title is misleading. I expected to be educated regarding the myriad religions in the world, many of them with a substantial presence in the United States. Instead, the author works to convince the reader The Bible should be required study in America's public schools. The author did place much of the blame for religious illiteracy on religion itself and not so much on secularism. He also did not mention America's woeful failing regarding science literacy, but then this is a book whose emphasis is religion.
Americans most certainly are ignorant regarding religion, even their own, but this book does not live up to the goal stated in its title. The title should have been "My argument for Bible Study in public schools."
Teach ABOUT Religion instead of Teaching Religion ..........2007-09-02
A persuasive argument for teaching about religion, not proselytizing. Author Stephen Prothero traces the degradation in religious knowledge, not necessarily observance, in the United States over the past 150 years.
Nowadays, the gods of Political Correctness must be appeased. People are reluctant to bring up or discuss the topic of religion. As a result, it has largely left the school system. He offers some salient examples of illiteracy and ignorance with regard to basic religious concepts (for example, some people believe that the epistles were the wives of the apostles!!).
Prothero spends more time making his argument than advancing solutions, the chief example of which is restoring education about religion in the public schools and beyond. He makes a salient point and differentiation between teaching about religion and pushing religious beliefs on to people. It is a persuasive case and timely, since so many modern conflicts and foreign-policy issues are shaped by religious belief.
The majority of the book is comprised of a glossary of religious concepts and terms. This alone provides a valuable reference. There is also a quiz in the Appendix so that readers can gauge their own degree of religious literacy.
A thought-provoking and persuasive book!
Important yes -- but a Fourth R?.......2007-09-01
The Professor of Religion effectively proves that we need more religious education. Yes, his department of religion should be more important but is there not a crying need for the more basic Three Rs to be taken care of first before we divert resources?
And what about the lack of Financial Literacy? Not knowing about Whahhabism could certainly hurt us again, but not understanding the dangers to borrowers and the economy contained in the fine print in sub-prime real estate loans could, it turns out, drive us into recession (some economists think recession will hit us next year) and that could even hurt us more.
The application of limited educational resources should be well balanced. It comes down to a question of priorities. And the author of this fine book is overstating the priority of his department and career field.
Book Description
Thirty years ago two sisters disappeared from a shopping mall. Their bodies were never found and those familiar with the case have always been tortured by these questions: How do you kidnap two girls? Who—or what—could have lured the two sisters away from a busy mall on a Saturday afternoon without leaving behind a single clue or witness?
Now a clearly disoriented woman involved in a rush-hour hit-and-run claims to be the younger of the long-gone Bethany sisters. But her involuntary admission and subsequent attempt to stonewall investigators only deepens the mystery. Where has she been? Why has she waited so long to come forward? Could her abductor truly be a beloved Baltimore cop? There isn't a shred of evidence to support her story, and every lead she gives the police seems to be another dead end—a dying, incoherent man, a razed house, a missing grave, and a family that disintegrated long ago, torn apart not only by the crime but by the fissures the tragedy revealed in what appeared to be the perfect household.
In a story that moves back and forth across the decades, there is only one person who dares to be skeptical of a woman who wants to claim the identity of one Bethany sister without revealing the fate of the other. Will he be able to discover the truth?
Customer Reviews:
Maybe Not Your Best Introduction to Lippman.......2007-10-05
Well, it was mine, after having been encouraged by my wife, who has consistently enjoed all those before it. Afterwards I wasn't quite sure what all the excitement has been about. Frankly, I found this book middling: neither a stunning success nor a total flop. The author has a good ear for dialogue, yet for me the characters remained fairly flat. It's true that the narrative is non-linear, but I wasn't put off by that: the style she's trying to put over (I think) matches the "revenant" plot-pivot. If anything, the circular narration may strike some readers as a bit pretentious for what is, finally, a good evening's read.
Fatal oversight?.......2007-09-24
I've read all of Lippman's books and enjoyed most of them. Her Tess Monaghan series always entertains. "What the Dead Know," however, isn't her strongest novel.
The story suffers from a non-linear narrative. Not only does it jump around in time, but since there are two missing girls and two grieving parents, there are essentially multiple protagonists. Too much mental whiplash forced me to skip to the end for the resolution about halfway through, then continue reading. Yes, it's cheating, but it did help. I understand how Lippman, knowing the whole story when she began to write it, wouldn't be able to see the degree of confusion her structure would cause. This becomes clear because re-reading the book is a whole different experience than the first read-through. One can appreciate the craftsmanship without being distracted by the disjointed timeline.
However, for me there's an even bigger problem. Without revealing too much of the plot, I'll just ask: In 1975, didn't police reports of missing children include in their descriptions identifying physical characteristics, such as moles, birthmarks, and obvious scars? Today I'm sure a parent would be asked for such details, to help identify a child (dead or alive). If police reports included this information in 1975, the case should have been solved sooner. Those of you who have read the book will know what I'm talking about. Do you agree?
I enjoy Lippman's work and I'll continue to read anything she gives us. However, this particular volume probably won't make my top-five list of her work. Not to worry, there are plenty of others. Check them out.
in the loop.......2007-09-24
This was the first of Lippman's novels I've read. And I was so flummoxed by the going round and around construct...and when the police said they'd let someone in the loop...I desperately wanted to get out of the loop....I felt like a hampster in a wheel...around and around....going nowhere....I simply didn't enjoy it; the way it was constructed it didn't pack a punch!
The mystery wasn't interesting to me; nor were the characters, with the possible exception of Miriam...who wasn't memorable but at least passable..
It occurs to me..post women's lib...now that women have to make a living...they're pumping out unspiring drivel like their male counterparts....Equal opportunity rum amok I suppose..
A moving literary mystery.......2007-09-23
I've never read any of Laura Lippman's books, so I didn't know her if her style was the usual crime and thriller fast-paced writing or the literary sort, sentences pregnant with suggestion and nuance. I'm happy to say that it's very literary: wonderful and evocative prose, carefully structured and flowing like a dream. The case involves the disappearance of two girls, two sisters taken during an outing at the mall. Years later, one of them reappears and throws the case wide open again. But she doesn't quite seem to be who she says she is (is anyone ever?). Lippman builds up characters like a sculptor, taking great pains to evince personality traits, histories, and deep, simmering emotions. Each character, not just the sisters, was interesting to me and there seemed a wealth of stories that could be told about each of them.
While reading, there were moments when I felt I was aloft and enjoying an excellent view of the community, gently and generously invited by the author to remain there watching, occasionally descending and moving close to the characters until the tempests of fear or rage within them became palpable. Despite what "knowingness" I thought I felt, my position was never higher than the level of the author herself, who knew everything, yet her voice was never smug. I was happy to observe and learn and guess.
And I managed to guess the identity of the mystery person because of a few small details. I'm glad I was right because I never get anything right when I guess the end of crime or mystery novels. Still, the circumstances behind the mystery were impossible to guess. But when all was revealed, it made perfect sense. Heartbreaking sense. I've never been so affected by the end of a book, especially a crime one.
Parts of the book reminded me of Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," which focuses heavily on the family breaking down after the disappearance of a young woman. In "What the dead know," two girls are taken (who takes two? many characters ask), and the parents are changed forever. Change is both internal and external. Time alters the town as well, and these altered landscapes reminded me how malleable our own appearances are, whether by our own hand or those of time and circumstance.
Another Great Psychological Drama from Lippman.......2007-09-22
I read a lot of crime fiction, and I think Laura Lippman is really one of the best writers in the field. WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is a nice example of her talents.
The plot of WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is relatively straightforward. In 1975, two young sisters mysteriously disappeared during a trip to the local mall in Baltimore. Now, over thirty years later, a woman appears claiming to be one of the missing girls. The mystery of the novel is whether this woman is telling the truth.
WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is more of a psychological drama than a fast-paced thriller. There are a fair number of characters in this novel, and Lippman takes a lot of time exploring the psyche of each individual person. This is the type of novel with a lot of interior monologues, where the reader follows the character's thoughts and observations about life. As a result, most of the characters in this novel possess a great deal of depth and complexity.
The major flaw of WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is the lack of a genuinely likable protagonist. Nearly all the characters in this book are deeply flawed and some are downright annoying. While this is certainly realistic in many ways, it does make this novel tough to read in spots, since there is no specific person to root for.
Overall, however, I enjoyed this book a great deal, but not as much as EVERY SECRET THING, an earlier effort. Still, I think Lippman is an enormously talented crime writer, and I look forward to her future novels.
Book Description
What’s going on in a man’s mind? From their early days, every woman has struggled to understand why males behave the way they do. Even long-married women who think they understand men have only scratched the surface. Beneath a man’s rugged exterior is an even more rugged, unmapped terrain. What bestselling author Shaunti Feldhahn’s research reveals about the inner lives of men will open women’s eyes to what the men in their life—boyfriends, brothers, husbands, and sons—are really thinking and feeling. Men want to be understood, but they’re afraid to “freak out” the women they love by confessing what is happening inside their heads. This book will guide women in how to provide the loving support that modern men want and need.
The Truth About His Inner Life
He Desperately Wants You to Know
What's going on in there? Ever been totally confused by something your man has said or done? Want to understand his secret desires and fears, his daily battles that you know nothing about?
In a woman-to-woman conversation you’ll never forget, Shaunti Feldhahn takes you beneath the surface into the inner lives of men. This book is about the things we just don’t ‘get’ about guys. With findings from a groundbreaking national survey and personal interviews of over one thousand men, For Women Only is full of eye-opening revelations you need to not only understand the man in your life, but to support and love him in the way he needs to be loved. Grounded in biblical hope, you will discover how to love your man for who he really is—not who you think he is.
Story Behind the Book
I had no idea how clueless I was about men until I interviewed a bunch of them for my last novel. Initially, I just wanted a little insight so I could write my main (male) character. But pretty soon I found myself astonished, over and over again blurting out, “That’s what you’re thinking?” So I did more interviews. After the novel hit shelves, dozens of women told me they also had been astonished by what I included. Clearly I wasn’t the only one who needed more insight on this!
To lay the groundwork for this nonfiction book, I wrote out the half-dozen things from these interviews that had most surprised me—things that appeared to be universal to most men—that women desperately needed to know. I conducted a professional national survey of men to test my findings. Yep—the survey substantiated every single one. These findings are fascinating—and they have already changed my life and marriage. I can’t wait to share them!
Customer Reviews:
An Amazing insight book.......2007-10-17
Being a man, I can tell you women out there that this book is 90% of what all men think and feel. It was amazing reading how accurate it is.
Sure there are exceptions but this book focuses on the common ground and while it is not in depth, it will give you a look inside our hearts and say things that we are scared to death to say in front of you.
I would recommend this book before ANY other book on men and relationships.
Revolutionary.......2007-10-11
To begin with, I was blown away by this book. What an impact such a small volume has made in my relationship with my dear fiance' as well as with my brothers and father. So, why is this book so good? Firstly, it is written with the idea of informing about the way men think. How many of us are totally confused about men? Yeah, most of us. And men don't talk a lot about their "feelings" so it is very difficult to get an honest answer. This book is an absolute blessing in that measure. It shows why men have trouble being romantic, why they need women's respect so much and (possibly the most revolutionary chapter) why they want SO MUCH sex.
I will not explain, b/c the book does that, but I will say that once I read the book my eyes were completely opened to why my fiance' reacts the way he does to my actions. And I began changing my actions and... well I will just say that although Caleb and I have always had an incredible relationship, this just made things even more beautiful.
To the reviewer who complained that the book made wives too subservient I would answer, firstly, read her book "For Men Only". Both books are interested in teaching wives and husbands to better serve eachother. Secondly, women are not at all put down in this book. Rather wives are shown to be the one factor in their husbands' lives that really makes the crucial difference between men feeling like a success or a failure. This book really is empowering to women because it is basically like, "You can make the crucial difference... Oh yeah, here's how."
While some points in this book may not be accurate for all men (I am blessed with a man who is the "King of Romance" as my mom says, and who will always talk about his feelings) it really has something for every relationship. If you are working to cultivate a blessed, beautiful marriage, you will find this book to be of great value.
Great things come in small packages.......2007-08-31
I have read a lot of books trying to understand my fellow homosapiens and this did not most terrific job. I relate to my brothers, coworkers, leaders, and men I've dated so much better. I judge less and I find that I'm less insecure around men now.
Shaunti Feldhahn is not just an author, she is an EXCELLENT communicator........2007-08-20
For Women Only is the result of a survey of 400 men across the country who responded to a questionaire about their relationships. This book points out seven areas in which women have a surface understanding of men's needs or desires and delves into each subject in a way that leaves the reader grasping what that statement really means.
For example, the first point is that "men need respect". That seems obvious enough, but Feldhahn brings this into perspective with her survey result that 74% of the men would rather feel "alone & unloved" instead of "inadequate & disrespected", if they had to choose one of the two options. She then elaborates on this with several follow-up examples of ways women can either demonstrate respect or show a lack of respect. Some of which we don't usually connect with showing disrespect. On page 24, she quotes Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, "In a relationship conflict, crying is often a woman's response to feeling unloved, and anger is often a man's response to feeling disrespected."
I would highly recommend this book to any woman who is serious about wanting to improve her relationship with her husband. The author has a way of transforming something you think you know into something you can apply to your everyday life, which isn't always an easy task.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK.......2007-08-20
MOST INFORMATIVE. FIND THINGS U MIGHT THINK YOU KNOW AND IF YOU DONT DO A LOT OF RESEARCH ON RELATIONSHIPS THIS IS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY WOULD NEVER NO OR UNDERSTAND IF YOU DONT READ THE BOOK
Book Description
America's most sought-after executive coach shows how to climb the last few rungs of the ladderThe corporate world is filled with executives, men and women who have worked hard for years to reach the upper levels of management. They're intelligent, skilled, and even charismatic. But only a handful of them will ever reach the pinnacle -- and as executive coach Marshall Goldsmith shows in this book, subtle nuances make all the difference. These are small "transactional flaws" performed by one person against another (as simple as not saying thank you enough), which lead to negative perceptions that can hold any executive back. Using Goldsmith's straightforward, jargonfree advice, it's amazingly easy behavior to change.Executives who hire Goldsmith for one-on-one coaching pay $250,000 for the privilege. With this book, his help is available for 1/10,000th of the price.
Customer Reviews:
Grow the leader inside.......2007-10-14
At the top everyone is smart and accomplished - ok, feel free to argue this one - but all else being equal, Goldsmith argues that it is our behavioral issues and people skills that will ultimate determine how high we can go. Our ability to listen, solicit feedback, identify our behavioral flaws and shift the focus from ourselves to others are integral components of our career path. The author provides a great overview of the most common personality pitfalls and behavioral issues and offers many suggestions to help us improve. An interesting read and well worth everyone's time.
Insightful thoughts based on proven approaches.......2007-10-12
Goldsmith has managed to sustain his edge as a thought leader without unnecessary academic exaggeration. This book is an excellent read for leaders at all levels, and even those who are not. It provides thoughtful lessons on professional and personal development that will resonate with all. I will share it and the book Understanding: Train of Thought with all of my students.
What Got You Here Won't Get You There.......2007-10-09
This is an excellent tool for personal development. If you have a highly successful team, this book is a "must read" for all of them! It will take your staff to new levels of personal development.
Leadership Development 101.......2007-10-03
I have coached over 500 individuals over the last 10 years. I do referral only business. After reading Marshall's book, I felt as if someone punched me hard in the stomach! I at first wanted to dismiss his premise that leaders want to win, be right, and generally look good. Was that me? After careful reflection and becoming introspective, I found Marshall's insights profound, and so simple, not only as a coach, but also as a manager in business. I now use the book as a reference book, and have purchased two copies. For me it's a must read for anyone interested in their personal development, or the development of others.
Good, but not the whole story.......2007-09-16
Bo Burlingham's book offers an interesting look at the ultimate objectives of privately held businesses. Each case is unique and engaging. However, I think Bo could have spent more time discussing exit strategies. Some of the owners stuck with their companies when they could have cashed out and do an even bigger, better company with the proceeds. Risk has to be considered and the failure to more heavily weight this aspect is the only issues I have with Mr. Burlingham's book. I will pass it along to others.
Book Description
What’s the secret to wowing your customers while maintaining a loyal and dedicated workforce? No one knows better than Enterprise, the nation’s #1 car rental company. Drawing upon the time-tested strategies that have propelled Enterprise from a single location in St. Louis into a $9 billion global powerhouse, EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS reveals how to:
• Actively seek out unsatisfied customers and quickly turn them into loyal fans
• Hire smart people and train them from the ground up
•Develop methods to reduce costs and add value for your customers in every interaction.
• Grow your business by rewarding employees with financial incentives, forming strong partnerships, and focusing on the long-term
• Thrive during tough economic times by bringing new advantages to the market
• Cultivate a fun and friendly workplace where teamwork rules
In EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS, noted business author Kirk Kazanjian reveals how your company can consistently outperform and outsmart the competition by following a simple philosophy espoused by Enterprise founder Jack Taylor: “Take care of your customers and employees first, and the profits will follow.” Winning customer loyalty is like running a marathon–not a 100-yard dash. By mastering this principle, Enterprise has earned not only record profits, but also received numerous awards for customer service and earned an enviable reputation as one of the world’s best companies to work for.
EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS imparts timeless lessons on satisfying both customers and employees that you can put to use right away, no matter what your business or industry.
Customer Reviews:
"Pick Up" Your Customer Service!!!.......2007-03-10
This book is AWESOME! Although Enterprise is a car rental company, many of their methods can be successfully applied to other businesses. Another great companion book to this is The Ultimate Question by Fred Reicheld. They both make the assertion that you have to turn first time customers into "promoters" who will return AND bring others with them. When I need to rent a car I will Pick Enterprise...They Pick Me Up!!!
Great book about a great company.......2007-03-08
Enterprise is the best, and this book tells us exactly why. Take care of your customers and employees first, then the profits will follow. Well written, easily understood, this is a book that anyone having anything to do with customer service should read. Learn the secret that makes Enterprise Rent-a-Car so succussful. Well worth the read.
PROVIDES IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET........2007-03-02
The author uses Enterprise to uncover critical insights that he distills into clearly stated key points. The essential focus of the book is on people...employees.
This is an first-rate analysis of a winning company, giving the reading important guidelines for success in any highly competitive market. Human resource professionals (yes, HR folks) should read this book, along with those who are concerned with business planning and marketing.
Good Book. Wrong Title........2007-03-02
EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS by Kirk Kazanjian may be viewed in a variety of ways. Many will consider this book nothing more than a marketing campaign, and in large part, they would be correct. However, I find no fault in that. If that were the intention of the people at Enterprise, it is ingenious. They certainly won my loyalty, not that I ever have much need to rent a vehicle, but if I ever do,....
Others might view this book just as the title opines, an instructional treatise on customer service. They too would be correct, but only to a certain degree. I say that because I found the book to be more of a business model. In fact, I would say this book is broken down thusly; 50% business model, 30% Enterprise company history and 20% customer service. Therefore, my only big knock on this book is the title, which leads the reader to believe customer service is the primary focus here. It is not. That is not to say, however, that readers will not glean valuable information on customer service, just not as much as this reader would have liked.
The book reads well and Kazanjian is to be commended for his work, but I do not believe the story paints quite the intended picture. I found in large part, the Enterprise Company bumbled its way into prosperity because a few headstrong employees refused to follow company policy! A good example is the Enterprise "we'll pick you up" mantra. I won't give too much of the book away, but this and other business innovations within the company happened by chance. Please do not mistake this as ridicule of the company. Enterprise is certainly a gem in today's marketplace, just understand that according to this book, much of the company's success wasn't planned that way. Perhaps that in and of itself is what has made them successful; their ability to adapt.
I would like to make one other observation about the title of the book. My fear is that many will miss out on this book because of the title. This is an excellent resource for constructing a business model and is, at best, a mediocre source on customer service. If you are on a quest for knowledge on "exceeding customer expectations" you will likely be disappointed here as there are certainly more informative volumes available.
Great for your business.......2007-02-17
If you are looking for a book to give your employees for customer service skills this is the only one.
Amazon.com
We've all been there: We know we must confront a coworker, store clerk, or friend about some especially sticky situation--and we know the encounter will be uncomfortable. So we repeatedly mull it over until we can no longer put it off, and then finally stumble through the confrontation. Difficult Conversations, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen, offers advice for handling these unpleasant exchanges in a manner that accomplishes their objective and diminishes the possibility that anyone will be needlessly hurt. The authors, associated with Harvard Law School and the Harvard Project on Negotiation, show how such dialogues actually comprise three separate components: the "what happened" conversation (verbalizing what we believe really was said and done), the "feelings" conversation (communicating and acknowledging each party's emotional impact), and the "identity" conversation (expressing the situation's underlying personal meaning). The explanations and suggested improvements are, admittedly, somewhat complicated. And they certainly don't guarantee positive results. But if you honestly are interested in elevating your communication skills, this book will walk you through both mistakes and remedies in a way that will boost your confidence when such unavoidable clashes arise. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
Members of the Harvard Negotiation Project--which brought you the mega-bestseller Getting to YES--show you how to handle your most difficult conversations with confidence and skill.
Whether you're dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with your spouse about money or child-rearing, negotiating with a difficult client, or simply saying "no," or "I'm sorry," or "I love you," we attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day. Based on fifteen years of research at the Harvard Negotiation Project, Difficult Conversations walks you through a step-by-step proven approach to having your toughest conversations with less stress and more success. You will learn:
how to start the conversation without defensiveness
why what is not said is as important as what is
ways of keeping and regaining your balance in the face of attacks and accusations
how to decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation
Filled with examples from everyday life, Difficult Conversations will help you on the job, at home, or out in the world. It is a book you will turn to again and again for advice, practical skills, and reassurance.
"Does this book deliver on [its] promise of an effective way through sticky situations, whether 'with your baby sitter or your biggest client'? It does."-- The New York Times
"These talented communicators blend a daunting array of disciplines into highly readable and practical advice."-- Booklist
"Brilliant. . . . I've already re-read most of it. I'm using it. What more could a reader ask?"-- Tom Peters
"Emotional Intelligence applied to life's tough moments."-- Daniel Goleman
Download Description
"What is a difficult conversation? Asking for a raise. Ending a relationship. Saying ""no"" to your boss or spouse. Confronting disrespectful behavior. Apologizing. Conversations we dread, and often handle clumsily as a result, are part of all our lives: in boardrooms and family rooms, across the negotiation table and the dinner table. Now, Difficult Conversations teaches us how to handle these dialogues with more success and less anxiety. How does it work? Based on fifteen years of research and consultations with thousands of people, Difficult Conversations pinpoints what works. The authors discovered that regardless of context, the same small but crucial errors are what trip us up--and a few key adjustments can make all the difference. * The role of emotions--ours and theirs * The impact of what is said and what is not said * Why admitting our mistakes will put us in a stronger position * The truth behind the myth that women are better at expressing their emotions than men * How to respond productively in the face of personal attacks Who is this for? Filled with examples from everyday life, Difficult Conversations is certain to be an instant and lasting classic for families, neighbors, bosses, employees, customers, tenants, landlords, psychologists, teachers, and more. Who are the authors? Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen teach at Harvard Law School and at the Harvard Negotiation Project. They have consulted to countless businesspeople, governments, organizations, and communities including all parties to the negotiations on constitutional transition in South Africa; school teachers in Medellin, Colombia; and community leaders and the police department in Springfield, Massachusetts. They lecture throughout the world and have written on negotiation, conflict resolution, and communication. Bruce Patton is co-author of Getting to Yes."
Customer Reviews:
Will you ever have a hard conversation? Sure, you will! Read this book first........2007-09-21
This little book can be a great help. We all have avoided conversations we knew were going to be difficult. Often not talking made things worse, so as things became intolerable we had the discussion and things got even worse. These authors break down the inner structure of difficult conversations and how we often mishandle them. They then show us the ways in which we can turn this into a constructive process that brings more understanding, greater cooperation, and learning that will help avoid repeating the difficulties in the future.
Certainly, I can't recap the whole book in this little review, but I especially like their concept of three conversations happening within each difficult conversation. They are the debate over what happened, the feelings conversation, and the identity issues. In the what happened conversation the problem is that each side assumes it knows the truth, that they know the other party's intentions, and that they know where and how to assign blame. Of course, all this is a fiction and a waste of time. It does nothing to fix the situation or improve the process to avoid the problem in the future. The book then shows you how to have a constructive approach to the same problem. Excellent stuff!
The authors are part of the Harvard Negotiation Project and has a foreword by one of the authors of the famous book, "Getting to Yes". The book is concise, but full of very good information. I recommend it very much.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson - Ann Arbor, MI
Difficult converations.......2007-09-17
this book is well worth the read,
it is easy to get throught, and does not repeat itself.
You want to read the whole book.
nancy carlson
great read.......2007-08-27
This book is used as a textbook at the Harvard MBA. Good tool for those messy conflicts
Best Book on Communication.......2007-08-24
This is the most useful and comprehensive compendium of effective, research validated, communication concepts I have ever seen in one book. Useful for anyone who speaks with other humans, especially significant others, business colleagues and teenagers. If you are a coach, this reading is required. Difficult ideas presented in a way that makes them easy to understand and easy to apply.
Quality of Life Must Read.......2007-08-04
Difficult Conversations, by Stone, Patton, and Heen, is a foundational book in the literature of holding difficult conversations in purposeful ways. I have read it often and use its principles in my teaching and in daily life. Underlying its principles is the simple understanding that we can get better at listening, talking, and acknowledging what is actually going on in our relationships; that we create the reality of our lives by the ways in which we talk about it; and that one conversation at a time, we can choose to work with the energy of conflict instead of avoiding it. There are many good books on this topic. I suggest reading them all, starting here.
Judy Ringer is the author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict
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- Leroy Neiman on Safari
- LogoLounge 3: 2,000 International Identities by Leading Designers
- Matisse: From Color to Architecture
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- Object of His Desire (Indigo: Sensuous Love Stories)
- Once Upon a Crime (The Sisters Grimm, Book 4)
- Open Business Models: How to Thrive in the New Innovation Landscape
- Painting Four Seasons Of Fabulous Flowers
- Paradigms and Sand Castles: Theory Building and Research Design in Comparative Politics (Analytical Perspectives on Politics)
Books Index
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