Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Incredible Book
  • get SAVED now with simple, direct organizing techniques
  • Some Good Advice!
  • If you are not already naturally organized, then his process would be excruciating torture to you.
  • It's That Next Step that Matters...
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
David Allen
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142000280

Amazon.com

With first-chapter allusions to martial arts, "flow," "mind like water," and other concepts borrowed from the East (and usually mangled), you'd almost think this self-helper from David Allen should have been called Zen and the Art of Schedule Maintenance.

Not quite. Yes, Getting Things Done offers a complete system for downloading all those free-floating gotta-do's clogging your brain into a sophisticated framework of files and action lists--all purportedly to free your mind to focus on whatever you're working on. However, it still operates from the decidedly Western notion that if we could just get really, really organized, we could turn ourselves into 24/7 productivity machines. (To wit, Allen, whom the New Economy bible Fast Company has dubbed "the personal productivity guru," suggests that instead of meditating on crouching tigers and hidden dragons while you wait for a plane, you should unsheathe that high-tech saber known as the cell phone and attack that list of calls you need to return.)

As whole-life-organizing systems go, Allen's is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can't junk, The next step is to write down every unaccounted-for gotta-do cramming your head onto its own scrap of paper. Finally, throw the whole stew into a giant "in-basket"

That's where the processing and prioritizing begin; in Allen's system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price. Also of value is Allen's ingenious Two-Minute Rule: if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. It's commonsense advice so obvious that most of us completely overlook it, much to our detriment; Allen excels at dispensing such wisdom in this useful, if somewhat belabored, self-improver aimed at everyone from CEOs to soccer moms (who we all know are more organized than most CEOs to start with). --Timothy Murphy

Book Description

In today's world, yesterday's methods just don't work. In Getting Things Done, veteran coach and management consultant David Allen shares the breakthrough methods for stress-free performance that he has introduced to tens of thousands of people across the country. Allen's premise is simple: our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve effective productivity and unleash our creative potential. In Getting Things Done Allen shows how to:

€ Apply the "do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it" rule to get your in-box to empty
€ Reassess goals and stay focused in changing situations
€ Plan projects as well as get them unstuck
€ Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety, and being overwhelmed
€ Feel fine about what you're not doing

From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done can transform the way you work, showing you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down.

Download Description

"""The personal productivity guru"" (Fast Company) delivers powerful methods that vastly increase your efficiency and creative results-at work and in life In today's world, yesterday's methods just don't work. In Getting Things Done, veteran coach and management consultant David Allen shares the breakthrough methods for stress-free performance that he has introduced to tens of thousands of people across the country. Allen's premise is simple: our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve effective productivity and unleash our creative potential. In Getting Things Done Allen shows how to: Apply the ""do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it"" rule to get your in-box to empty Reassess goals and stay focused in changing situations Plan projects as well as get them unstuck Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety, and being overwhelmed Feel fine about what you're not doing From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done can transform the way you work, showing you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Incredible Book.......2007-10-22

David Allen's methods (in conjunction with Merlin Mann's Inbox Zero series) have changed how I handle my work, for both my personal and professional life.

I am getting more done, and my stress level is drastically diminished. An empty inbox makes me happy. : - )

5 out of 5 stars get SAVED now with simple, direct organizing techniques.......2007-10-15

Read GTD one time through. Hard to put down. Read it again to outline and make the knowledge my own. I'm like a born-again GTD evangelist. Like a true holy-roller I started doing as much as I could, as fast as I could because I have seen the light!

Projects that have been languishing on the back burner are now active and moving forward. Multiple stacks of piled paper are now neatly organized in a new lateral file cabinet. I didn't really have an inbox. Now I not only have an inbox, I'm spouting profound truths like, "there is no vision without an inbox."

Using my pda is no longer painful. I know right where my planning notes are. I can make notes that transform into clear thinking, then projects, then actions by context.

Save yourself, brother. GTD. This is the way.

5 out of 5 stars Some Good Advice!.......2007-10-12

Allen's approach to managing yourself and your world is very good advice on how to be more productive and satisfied. This book is filled with practical, hands-on ideas, tips, tools, and techniques for more effective self-management. Many of us feel overwhelmed and out of control in today's fast-paced world. This book and the book Understanding: Train of Thought are great ways to get a handle on all that "stuff" in our lives and figure out how to better manage the flow of information that never seems to stop. Five stars all the way!

3 out of 5 stars If you are not already naturally organized, then his process would be excruciating torture to you........2007-10-10

#1 if you are not already naturally organized, then I can only expect you will toss this book in the rubbish bin because his process would be excruciating torture to you. It is an in-depth, deep clean.

If you are already naturally organized and yet feel you are not truly maximizing the effort you are putting into it, then this is well worth the time to read.

I easily related to this book and took away a few productive processes. It is over all a helpful book on organizing beyond the ubiquitous to do list. He has clear steps to get stalled projects moving forward. Hammering the point that the frustrations you face in getting things done are in actuality your lack of dealing with the hard question of what is the next physical action I need to take with this to deal with it. That may very well be toss it in the rubbish or Make a phone call...

Unfortunately, more often than not his example of the next action step is make a call... I started to cringe half way through the book whenever he wrote "Finally, when it's time to actually do an action, LIKE MAKING A CALL..." Towards the end of the book I was saying out loud and laughing "What is our next action step... Oh, of course make a call!"

That one criticism aside, I am trying his tickler file concept and do find it useful. I have implemented his mind sweep to organizing myself before the week so as to be prepared to face all of the inevitable interruptions and schedule changes with ease while accomplishing my weekly objectives. Although, in my case frequently the next action step is "turn off the phone, IM and email" so that I can work.

4 out of 5 stars It's That Next Step that Matters..........2007-10-09

David Allen's concise and useful guide is built largely on the idea that, while people "think" in terms of entire projects, human action can only be practically applied to one aspect of a project at any one time.

In order to be effective, and work intelligently,we must first diligently construct our catalog of things that "need" doing and then proceed to priortize them in terms of their relative importance. This is only list making, however the act of breaking each project down, in order of importance, into discrete action steps is a more complex intellectual process, and is where we often fail. It is not a complex concept, but even the very intelligent lose sight of it under the pressures of life and work.

I found it interesting that many of the key points emphasized by Allen were articulated by Earl Nightingale, a famous radio commentator, decades ago. They are no less true today. The difficulty is forming and maintaining the habit structure that enables us to be masters of work, rather than slaves to unfinished business.

Bob Moffit
Retired Executive & Industry Consultant
Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Never Eat Alone
  • Simple, but good advice
  • Not impressed
  • too basic
  • Be a better connector
Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
Keith Ferrazzi , and Tahl Raz
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Motivation & Self-ImprovementMotivation & Self-Improvement | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0385512058
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Book Description

Do you want to get ahead in life?

Climb the ladder to personal success?

The secret, master networker Keith Ferrazzi claims, is in reaching out to other people. As Ferrazzi discovered early in life, what distinguishes highly successful people from everyone else is the way they use the power of relationships—so that everyone wins.

In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi lays out the specific steps—and inner mindset—he uses to reach out to connect with the thousands of colleagues, friends, and associates on his Rolodex, people he has helped and who have helped him.

The son of a small-town steelworker and a cleaning lady, Ferrazzi first used his remarkable ability to connect with others to pave the way to a scholarship at Yale, a Harvard MBA, and several top executive posts. Not yet out of his thirties, he developed a network of relationships that stretched from Washington’s corridors of power to Hollywood’s A-list, leading to him being named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40 and selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the Davos World Economic Forum.

Ferrazzi's form of connecting to the world around him is based on generosity, helping friends connect with other friends. Ferrazzi distinguishes genuine relationship-building from the crude, desperate glad-handling usually associated with “networking.” He then distills his system of reaching out to people into practical, proven principles. Among them:

Don’t keep score: It’s never simply about getting what you want. It’s about getting what you want and making sure that the people who are important to you get what they want, too.

“Ping” constantly: The Ins and Outs of reaching out to those in your circle of contacts all the time—not just when you need something.

Never eat alone: The dynamics of status are the same whether you’re working at a corporation or attending a society event— “invisibility” is a fate worse than failure.

In the course of the book, Ferrazzi outlines the timeless strategies shared by the world’s most connected individuals, from Katherine Graham to Bill Clinton, Vernon Jordan to the Dalai Lama.

Chock full of specific advice on handling rejection, getting past gatekeepers, becoming a “conference commando,” and more, Never Eat Alone is destined to take its place alongside How to Win Friends and Influence People as an inspirational classic.

Download Description

Do you want to get ahead in life?

Climb the ladder to personal success?

The secret, master networker Keith Ferrazzi claims, is in reaching out to other people. As Ferrazzi discovered early in life, what distinguishes highly successful people from everyone else is the way they use the power of relationships–so that everyone wins.

In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi lays out the specific steps–and inner mindset–he uses to reach out to connect with the thousands of colleagues, friends, and associates on his Rolodex, people he has helped and who have helped him.

The son of a small–town steelworker and a cleaning lady, Ferrazzi first used his remarkable ability to connect with others to pave the way to a scholarship at Yale, a Harvard MBA, and several top executive posts. Not yet out of his thirties, he developed a network of relationships that stretched from Washington’s corridors of power to Hollywood’s A–list, leading to him being named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40 and selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the Davos World Economic Forum.

Ferrazzi’s form of connecting to the world around him is based on generosity, helping friends connect with other friends. Ferrazzi distinguishes genuine relationship–building from the crude, desperate glad–handling usually associated with “networking.” He then distills his system of reaching out to people into practical, proven principles. Among them:

Don’t keep score: It’s never simply about getting what you want. It’s about getting what you want and making sure that the people who are important to you get what they want, too.

“Ping” constantly: The Ins and Outs of reaching out to those in your circle of contacts all the time–not just when you need something.

Never eat alone: The dynamics of status are the same whether you’re working at a corporation or attending a society event&mdash “invisibility” is a fate worse than failure.

In the course of the book, Ferrazzi outlines the timeless strategies shared by the world’s most connected individuals, from Katherine Graham to Bill Clinton, Vernon Jordan to the Dalai Lama.

Chock full of specific advice on handling rejection, getting past gatekeepers, becoming a “conference commando,” and more, Never Eat Alone is destined to take its place alongside How to Win Friends and Influence People as an inspirational classic.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Never Eat Alone .......2007-10-20

Never Eat Alone is not your typical business manual. By following the author's strategies you will not only grow your business but will profit in your personal relationships as well. It is truly life altering. So many books are written on how to be successful and using people to gain that level of success. This book focuses on relationships and how building on those relationships, success will follow. Get your pen and paper out, this book has so many practical tips that you'll want to read them over and over. Katherine Burger RN,C CWS Supervisor Outpatient Services Ocala Regional Medical Center

5 out of 5 stars Simple, but good advice.......2007-10-17

The advice presented in this book is quite simple and nothing is really new. Don't expect any advice based on the academic writing on social networks. Still I liked the style of writing and good practical examples. The key problem is naturally to implement the author's advice. He has for instance great advice on dinner parties, but the key difficulty is to get moving and doing it. In this regard, a book cannot really do much. Still, this book makes it as easy as possible.

2 out of 5 stars Not impressed.......2007-10-15

This stuff put into practice would spread your network to thin and you wouldn't make real friends with anybody. I didn't gain anything from reading this book.

1 out of 5 stars too basic.......2007-10-14


some good ideas but would expect a book like this to sell for $4.00 to $6.00. Here is the gist of the book: middle class childhood and was able to get into Yale where he met people, became friends and kept in touch with. Guess what, he was able to tap the network and help himself... wow who knew? So, if you are going to a City college you might no be meeting the "right" people. Seriously, for those with no clue about being social, this book may help them. Marketing can be learned... many of us (even experienced markeing people) at time can be a wall flower. Don't fret, just follow up and talk about things other than work.... kids, pets, sports, etc.

4 out of 5 stars Be a better connector.......2007-10-14

Your don't have to be a super-connector like Ferrazzi to be a better connector in your own life. I took away some useful perspectives that I am starting to incorporate into my own routines. For instance, this book helped me recognize the potential value that lies hidden in my own Outlook address book.

I have begun to turn the regrets I felt for not keeping in touch into actions. "Never Eat Alone" is not only a great title for this book, but also a concept that helps to remind me of the simple opportunities available on a daily basis to better connect with the people around me.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A wonderful memoir for baby boomers
  • We laughed so hard we almost drove off the road.
  • reminicent of "The Christmas Story", very enjoyable and funny
  • Not Bill Bryson's best
  • Deserves a Read
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir
Bill Bryson
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 076791936X
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

From one of the most beloved and bestselling authors in the English language, a vivid, nostalgic, and utterly hilarious memoir of growing up in the 1950s

Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century—1951—in the middle of the United States—Des Moines, Iowa—in the middle of the largest generation in American history—the baby boomers. As one of the best and funniest writers alive, he is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24-carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero. In his case, he ran around his house and neighborhood with an old football jersey with a thunderbolt on it and a towel about his neck that served as his cape, leaping tall buildings in a single bound and vanquishing awful evildoers (and morons)—in his head—as "The Thunderbolt Kid."

Using this persona as a springboard, Bill Bryson re-creates the life of his family and his native city in the 1950s in all its transcendent normality—a life at once completely familiar to us all and as far away and unreachable as another galaxy. It was, he reminds us, a happy time, when automobiles and televisions and appliances (not to mention nuclear weapons) grew larger and more numerous with each passing year, and DDT, cigarettes, and the fallout from atmospheric testing were considered harmless or even good for you. He brings us into the life of his loving but eccentric family, including affectionate portraits of his father, a gifted sportswriter for the local paper and dedicated practitioner of isometric exercises, and OF his mother, whose job as the home furnishing editor for the same paper left her little time for practicing the domestic arts at home. The many readers of Bill Bryson’s earlier classic, A Walk in the Woods, will greet the reappearance in these pages of the immortal Stephen Katz, seen hijacking literally boxcar loads of beer. He is joined in the Bryson gallery of immortal characters by the demonically clever Willoughby brothers, who apply their scientific skills and can-do attitude to gleefully destructive ends.

Warm and laugh-out-loud funny, and full of his inimitable, pitch-perfect observations, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is as wondrous a book as Bill Bryson has ever written. It will enchant anyone who has ever been young.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A wonderful memoir for baby boomers.......2007-10-17

I always enjoy Bill Bryson's travel books (NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, A WALK IN THE WOODS) and his books on language (THE MOTHER TONGUE).

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE THUNDERBOLT KID is a memoir, and since Bryson and I grew up in the same decades, I found a lot to like in this book. His writing is always funniest when it's personal and self-deprecating, and his stories of himself as a child are vastly entertaining.

But this book is more than memoir or a string of funny stories about his childhood. Bryson captures the time and place -- 50's small-town America -- and serves those "simpler times" up with affection. In those pre-minivan days a bicycle was a kid's ticket to ride; the movies were a gateway to the world; and a costume, whether the Thunderbolt Kid or Annie Oakley (am I saying too much?), was the passport to bravery and adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE THUNDERBOLT KID, and probably would have enjoyed it no matter which decades were mine. Maybe it's a book of particular interest to the first wave of Baby Boomers, but the humor and whimsy of its presentation are wonderful counterpoint to its well-researched social context.

You're bound to laugh out loud at this book. If you like laughing out loud, then by all means read THE THUNDERBOLT KID.

5 out of 5 stars We laughed so hard we almost drove off the road........2007-10-07

My husband and I listened to this book on cd while on a long car trip. It was great. We laughed so much, I had to keep turning it off so we didn't crash the car. A must read for anyone who grew up in the mid-west in the 1950's. We didn't and stiil loved it. Bryson has a great delivery and makes it so real. My favorite Bryson book, so far. We gave our copy to a friend and bought another for a co-worker.

5 out of 5 stars reminicent of "The Christmas Story", very enjoyable and funny.......2007-10-03

I read this specifically for the historic recollections of the 50's era, and the fact that the jacket reviews indicated "snort-root-beer-out-your-nose funny". I don't often laugh out loud while reading, and I did several times through this book. It reminds me of a print version of "The Christmas Story" movie, without the BB gun and with a lot more detail. Bryson's command of language is engaging and quite intelligent, the book was an easy read and wasn't boring. This is surprising given Bryson's admission that he wasn't a great student. My only complaint was that I wanted more. I plan to read his other works asap.

4 out of 5 stars Not Bill Bryson's best.......2007-09-24

I am a Bryson fan and have been since his first book. This one is good, mind you -- funny, well written - but NOT as good as his some of his others. I was a tad disappointed, but still think the book is worth buying. So, buy it.

4 out of 5 stars Deserves a Read.......2007-09-09

For a child of the 40s and 50s, this book will serve to recall better times. Bryson gets a little 60s' preachy in spots, but they are not overwhelming. When you put this book down, you are left with a slightly sad feeling that life as experienced in the 50s will not be seen again and that today's kids are missing a lot.
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Sucess at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Outstanding
  • Very Engaging
  • An Insightful and Very Informative Approach to Communicating
  • Transformational
  • Connect Better
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Sucess at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time
Susan Scott
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425193373
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Amazon.com

Susan Scott believes that interpersonal difficulties--at work and at home--are a direct result of our inability to communicate well. Fierce Conversations is based on principles from her international consulting practice, in which she teaches executives how to conduct such exchanges more dynamically and ultimately more effectively, thereby improving the relationships they enjoy with their various dialogue partners "one conversation at a time." Using identifiable anecdotes from her experience to inspire and inform, along with a series of practical exercises designed to impart the requisite skills, Scott walks readers through the individual steps she's developed to build better associations through more robust and honest discourses. Addressing all aspects of the process, from several methods for listening more attentively to specific ways she's fashioned to confront and resolve issues "that stand between you and success," Scott offers the type of concrete advice and confidence-building counsel that should help even the most reticent improve their communication skills dramatically. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

The Wall Street Journal bestseller, now with new material.

The master teacher of positive change through powerful communication, Susan Scott wants her readers to succeed. To do that, she explains, one must transform everyday conversations employing effective ways to get the message across. In this guide, which includes exercises and tools to take you step by step through the Seven Principles of Fierce Conversations, Scott teaches readers how to:

€ Overcome barriers to meaningful communication
€ Expand and enrich conversations with colleagues, friends, and family
€ Increase clarity and improve understanding
€ Handle strong emotions-on both sides of the table

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding.......2007-08-24

Extremely useful in both personal and professional life. I've attended many classes & seminars in the last 30 years but still learned a host of valuable info. Highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars Very Engaging .......2007-08-14

I settled in for an average book with and interesting title about communication. What I recieved was an invitation to look in my life and my business for fierce conversations. As a trainer and a business coach communication is my my tool.Fierce Conversations gave me tools that work,ways to assess my progress and stories that assist me in seeing what would be possible in my business and in my life if I had authentic, direct conversations with people.If you have to pick one communication book this year, it's this one!

5 out of 5 stars An Insightful and Very Informative Approach to Communicating.......2007-08-08

Fierce Conversations provides an opportunity for the reader to gain information while participating in a self-discovery process. It takes the idea of communicating thoughts and ideas to a new level and challenges us to think before speaking by considering the ramifications of what others will hear. We are reminded that any "single conversation can change the trajectory of a business, a career, a marriage or a life." This is an awesome statement and the author proved her point repeatedly through examples.

I am determined to address my most challenging "Mineral Rights conversation (you'll have to read the book to know what I mean) in the very near future. I will also recommend my writers' group members review this book as an example of quality writing that captures the audience, propels them to action, and encourages completion of task.

5 out of 5 stars Transformational .......2007-05-19

Susan Scott has a way of getting to the heart of the communciations problem. People say what they think you want to hear, and they are rarely authentic because they are afraid to be. They are even afraid to be honest with themselves. An excellent read.

5 out of 5 stars Connect Better.......2007-05-12

It is rare that I read a book cover to cover. I read lots of books; however, I find most books contain little or nothing new. Susan's book is different.

In my line of work, I am only as successful as my ability to connect with others. Having an arsenal of powerful questions and a strong framework for presenting are key to my success. Susan's book contains the best tools I have found to connect deeply with others.
Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time (The Every Man Series)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Touches the surface
  • Wow. I felt like these authors were looking into my soul.
  • Real
  • This One Pulls No Punches
  • Great Book!
Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time (The Every Man Series)
Stephen Arterburn , and Fred Stoeker
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  3. Every Man's Marriage: An Every Man's Guide to Winning the Heart of a Woman (previously released as Every Woman's Desire) Every Man's Marriage: An Every Man's Guide to Winning the Heart of a Woman (previously released as Every Woman's Desire)
  4. Every Heart Restored: A Wife's Guide to Healing in the Wake of a Husband's Sexual Sin (The Every Man Series) Every Heart Restored: A Wife's Guide to Healing in the Wake of a Husband's Sexual Sin (The Every Man Series)
  5. Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle: Honest Conversations About Sexual Integrity (The Every Man Series) Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle: Honest Conversations About Sexual Integrity (The Every Man Series)

ASIN: 1578563682
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Book Description

the challenge every man faces...the fight every man can win

From the television to the Internet, print media to videos, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It is impossible to avoid such temptations...but, thankfully, not impossible to rise above them.
Shattering the perception that men are unable to control their thought lives and roving eyes, Every Man's Battle shares the stories of dozens who have escaped the trap of sexual immorality and presents a practical, detailed plan for any man who desires sexual purity-perfect for men who have fallen in the past, those who want to remain strong today, and all who want to overcome temptation in the future.




Includes a special section for women, designed to help them understand and support the men they love.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Touches the surface.......2007-10-20

This book just touches the surface about a walk with the Lord. That is all we really need is to enjoy the Lord and let him work in us. A book that I thought was more help full was "Our Human Spirit" by Witness Lee. Available at www.lsm.org

5 out of 5 stars Wow. I felt like these authors were looking into my soul........2007-09-23

Wow. I felt like these authors were looking into MY soul as they were writing. At times, it frightened me. It was amazing how well I could relate to what the authors were writing.

This book, which is written to Christian males, is all about winning the war on sexual temptation. It gives great advice on how a man can win this battle in as little as 6 weeks. It explored the natural tendencies of men and how our very maleness can lead us down the road of sexual impurity. The authors then turn the focus toward recognizing theses male tendencies and being "on guard" against them so that sexual purity can be obtained.

Some men have been quoted as saying, "It's natural for a male to look [at an attractive woman]." Is this [looking] stealing something that doesn't belong to you? The book answers this question. Also, if you want to be more captivated by your wife (and you may not think it's possible because you are already enamored by her), then I strongly encourage you to read this book.

I believe this book will enable you to win the battle on sexual temptation as well as strengthen your marriage (if you're married).

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I plan to read it multiple times.

5 out of 5 stars Real.......2007-09-19

This book gives men an accurate perspective of lust. It provides reasons why lust is wrong by quoting scripture. It provides stories by the authors' personal lives to show that lust attacks all men and in a variety of ways. The book provides real ways to stop lusting. Finally, it provides expectations of the struggle.

5 out of 5 stars This One Pulls No Punches.......2007-08-28

We're living in an age of unbridled sensuality and desire, when almost nothing is taboo, and ideas such as morality, purity, sanctity, and respect are considered highly subjective concepts. Though temptations of the flesh have always been with us - and always will be with us as long as we have the old sin nature inside - it has never before been harder for men and women alike to control their thoughts, minds, and dare I say it ....hormones.

The battle for purity of mind, thought, deed, and heart has escalated to a fever pitch, and countless of men and women alike have hurt others and been hurt by others in the areas of sexual purity. Television ads, billboards, magazine inserts - even in the once harmless Ladies Home Journal - promote life-styles and standards of living that open even the best person to thoughts and desires that, if left unchecked, can run roughshod over good intentions and the way we'd like to live.

Men, in particular, have suffered greatly in this area; and though it's not entirely their fault, the rising numbers of divorce and extramarital affairs inside the church - even among those who have served long and faithfully in the ministry - speak very loudly and clearly that something is wrong.

"Every Man's Battle", by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker, is one of the best devotionals targeting men and the battle for purity that I've come across in quite some time. It's practical, down-to-earth, and both authors "roll up their sleeves" and get right to the nitty-gritty details. It has a two-pronged approach: though it affirms men struggling with purity that they're not monsters, mentally ill, cursed, or alone in their fight; it also pulls no punches when it comes to their admonition to clean up their thought lives and behavior patterns.

"Every Man's Battle" also goes into great depth analyzing the male perspective and thought process - even going into biological detail as to why it's so hard for many men to keep pure - without succumbing to the age-old excuse, "boys will be boys". Much of what they discuss makes a tremendous amount of sense on a simple every day level, but at the same time they back everything with Scripture from God's Word.

It's very practical, and it doesn't just talk about the struggle for sexual purity and give enthusiastic exhortations and admonitions, it lays out and devises easy-to-implement action steps for any men to clean up their lives and obtain purity. In the battle for sexual purity, this isn't just a "Recon & Intel" report, it's a battle strategy aimed at one goal: to win, under the power and strength of God.

Finally, the best part about this book is the fact it's been written by two Christian men who have fought long and hard against the very beast troubling so many men. Other devotionals and books I've read about sexual purity and temptation have been on the ball and scripturally accurate, but they always read a little flat because you got the idea that though they were well researched and written, none of the authors really spent "time in the trenches". These guys have, and they aren't only recommending "good practices they've researched", but battle plans that saved their purity and marriages.

5 out of 5 stars Great Book!.......2007-08-27

Another new bestseller which I highly recommend - The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune
Paula Deen Celebrates!: Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • On time
  • Party Time!
  • Cookbook
  • Best recipes!
  • GOOD COOKBOOK
Paula Deen Celebrates!: Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life
Paula Deen , and Martha Nesbit
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
SouthSouth | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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  3. The Lady & Sons Just Desserts: More Than 120 Sweet Temptations from Savannah's Favorite Restaurant The Lady & Sons Just Desserts: More Than 120 Sweet Temptations from Savannah's Favorite Restaurant
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ASIN: 0743278119

Amazon.com

Fans of Food Network star Paula Deen enjoy her unpretentious Southern-gal persona as much as her easy, what's-not-to-like recipes. As a writer of four other cookbooks, including The Lady & Sons Just Desserts, restaurant owner, and purveyor of her own product line, she's also something of an entrepreneur. In Paul Deen Celebrates! she offers 170-plus recipes arranged by menus for traditional holidays and other, sometimes whimsical celebrations like Elvis's Birthday and Movie-Watching Pizza Party in Bed. The recipes, which are often Southern-rich, range from the more traditional, such as Shrimp Etouffé, Muffuletta Sandwiches, and Macaroni Salad, to the innovative, including Collard Green Wantons, Grilled Chicken Pita, and Scallop and Bacon Pizza. Her sweets include the likes of Old Fashioned Banana Pudding, Gooey Toffee Butter Cake and Margarita Mousse. Offered also are decorating tips, and "Paula's Pearls of Wisdom" like "treasure today's moment's because they will tomorrow's memories."

Deen's dishes couldn't be more approachable and will doubtlessly inspire many holiday menus. Readers should know, however, that she regularly calls for convenience products like cake mixes and canned soups, whose use (by now something of an American tradition in itself) can do little to make homemade food taste as good as it otherwise might. Paula Deen Celebrates! should, however, excite Deen's many fans, who, along with the attractive formulas, receive lots of "back-story" on the author's own celebrations, life, and mostly good times. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

Beloved Food Network personality, restaurateur, and author Paula Deen loves a party, and in her latest book, Paula Deen Celebrates!, Paula shares with fans old and new how she celebrates a year's worth of holidays and special occasions. Now anyone can share in the down-home celebrations Paula, her husband, Michael, their kids, and extended family enjoy at their beautiful home in Savannah, Georgia.

What better way to start off the New Year than with a New Year's Eve Brunch with friends -- at midnight! This colorful celebration includes Crab and Spinach Casserole and Baked Tomatoes, and finishes with a quintessentially southern Hummingbird Cake and Irish Coffee. Welcome St. Patrick's Day, Savannah style, with Lamb Stew and Green Grits Pie. The centerpiece of an Easter dinner is a Peanut Butter-Glazed Ham, accompanied by Spinach-Swiss Casserole, Squash Boats, and flaky Butterhorns, with a bonus recipe for Ham Salad that makes eating leftovers a treat. Looking for a reason to party, south-of-the-border style? Try Paula's Cinco de Mayo Fiesta menu, with Macho Nachos and a cool and creamy Margarita Mousse. Paula honors the memory of her mother, and all the other women who have blessed her life, with a Mother's Day Tea of dainty sandwiches and irresistible cookies served on her best china, and fathers get their due with a Father's Day Boating Picnic. The Fourth of July is the perfect occasion for an Outdoor Grill Party and Low-Country Boil, and if what you want is a quiet evening at home, pop a movie in the DVD player and chow down on your choice of Paula's savory and sweet pizzas. Gather the family to watch some football and savor Jamie's Cheeseburger Pies, and give family and friends the gift of a sweet treat at the holidays with Paula's Icebox Fruitcake or Peppermint Bark. Her Christmas feast starts with Cranberry Holiday Brie and stars an impressive Standing Rib Roast, with Twice-Baked Potato Casserole. The show-stopping dessert is Paula's butter-laden Coconut Pound Cake glazed with coconut syrup and covered with icing and toasted coconut!

Paula brings you into her home, her kitchen, and her heart with family stories and photographs. This time, her husband, Michael, sons Jamie and Bobby, and brother, Bubba, chime in to share their memories, too. Decorating and serving ideas will inspire you to use what you have to carry through a theme to make the most informal meal special. And Paula shares her most private thoughts in a special feature -- Paula's Pearls of Wisdom -- which you'll find with each menu.

Paula Deen Celebrates! is Paula at her very southern best. Join her in making and sharing her best dishes for the best times of your life.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars On time.......2007-10-18

The cookbook came timely and was a great birthday surprise. I have had success ordering through Amazon everytime!

5 out of 5 stars Party Time!.......2007-07-05

I loved this book by Paula Deen. It was given to me as a gift and I've used it for many parties. I especially love how the menu is all laid out for you. It's so easy to mix and match the ideas or use the entire menu for a party. It's written in true Paula style and any true fan would love this book!

5 out of 5 stars Cookbook.......2007-06-27

If you like Paula's TV show - then you'll love going through all of these wonderful recipes!

5 out of 5 stars Best recipes! .......2007-06-09

Paula Deens recipes are perfect for Sunday family dinners and for any parties throughout the year. They are also great if you just want great homemade comfort food!

4 out of 5 stars GOOD COOKBOOK.......2007-05-29

Good cookbook! Paula shares some of her fancier recipes in this book. Great for southern entertaining! Perfect recipes that your guest are SURE to LOVE!! I'm telling ya'll they will LOVE these eats! Enjoy!
Never Check E-Mail In the Morning: And Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Work Life Work
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Morgenstern revolutionized our business
  • A different approach to organizing for efficiency
  • Gave it away the next day
  • Scrapple at Best
  • Disappointed. No useful advice.
Never Check E-Mail In the Morning: And Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Work Life Work
Julie Morgenstern
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Motivation & Self-ImprovementMotivation & Self-Improvement | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743250885

Book Description

IS IT ME OR IS IT THEM?

Maintaining control in today's hectic workplace is a challenge -- everything is lean, competitive, and uncertain. What does it take to survive?

Making Work Work is Julie Morgenstern's most important book yet. Through the mastery of brand-new strategies, Morgenstern shows you how small changes in your thinking and behavior will help you achieve the seemingly impossible -- boost your value, increase your job security, and afford you the time to still have a life.

Morgenstern has helped clients of all levels take control of their work lives in every industry: from corporations and nonprofits to government agencies and small businesses; from executives and assistants to educators and salespeople. She's learned that no matter who you are, happiness at work involves feeling appreciated, in control, successful, and in balance. And achieving that is possible.

People rarely look at their jobs from a psychological and practical perspective at the same time, but Julie Morgenstern does. This book mirrors the individual consulting services she provides by showing you how to start with yourself and then tackle the more complex external issues of working relationships and the job. For every obstacle you encounter along the way, Morgenstern diagnoses the source of the problem (is it you or them?), and with insight and warmth, she provides simple grab-and-go strategies. These are small changes anyone can make to improve performance and efficiency at work.

At its core, Making Work Work is about your relationship to your job. With the reliable, methodical process taught in this book, you will:

• feel less trapped and more in charge • be able to make a bad situation better • search for a job that's a better fit for who you are.

This is a provocative and life-changing book that will help you boost your clarity, confidence, and performance in any economic climate. With Morgenstern's guidance you can find a way to make work work.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Morgenstern revolutionized our business.......2007-07-17

Nearly a year ago, I bought Never Check E-mail in the Morning and implemented the practices prescribed throughout the book into our busy real estate office. We were drowning in in our crazy workloads, and struggling under the pressure of always being available to our clients. With e-mail and BBs you can never turn off, especially in real estate where it's completely client-based. Morgenstern's techniques really revolutionized the way we did business and helped us to better manage clients' needs and our own sanity. Her strategies are so practical and address all the problems of working in a 24/7 global market. I definitely recommend it!

5 out of 5 stars A different approach to organizing for efficiency.......2007-06-28

I read this book with some trepidation since I've read lots of organizing and efficiency books over the years. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this one, since it offers nine "competencies" that all should master, and number one is "Embracing your work/life balance". With this as the foundation, she builds all other competencies on this one. So, when discussing competency three (Choose the Most Important Tasks) or competency five (Control the Nibblers), they aren't described as in typical efficiency/organization books. Typically, these types of tasks are encouraged to allow us to 'get more done', but in this book, taking control of these types of issues is encouraged to allow us to achieve the ultimate goal of work/life balance, instead of making us more efficient cogs in the corporate wheel.

A nice approach, and well done.

2 out of 5 stars Gave it away the next day.......2007-05-08

This book begins with a questionaire to rate your level of organization at work. I filled it out, scored it, and promptly donated it to my library. I am obviously more organized within my work environment than at home. Only buy this book if you are a mess at work and unable to complete projects on time.

2 out of 5 stars Scrapple at Best.......2007-03-09

This book gushes of leftovers. It is a very wordy read and doesn't get to any practical sort of information until the latter half, most of which is not only a repeat of earlier books, but also common sense stuff (this coming from someone who doesn't instinct-wise have a firm grasp on time management) that i have gleaned from many other sources, and in a more concise format. although her other books are great, i don't recommend this one.

2 out of 5 stars Disappointed. No useful advice........2006-11-07

I bought this book for myself, expecting to find some useful advice to help me organize my day a little better and to stay focused on priorities. I have been in management for 12 years and I expected this book to offer some new insights into time management and other daily challenges. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed and struggled to find some useful advice within the first half and have since put it down.

The book seems to target a junior audience with a certain type of personality that is more focused on fitting in and accommodating others, rather than those focused on leadership and results.

The book itself feels really cheap. I is printed on that cheap news-print paper like those crossword puzzle books.


The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times . . . and Why It Matters Today
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Overly Narrow Presentation with Many Omissions
  • The Antidote for "Left Behind"
  • Great book to get started with
  • Dispensationalists Beware!!
  • good, but could have been much better
The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times . . . and Why It Matters Today
Hank Hanegraaff
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

PropheciesProphecies | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0849901847

Book Description

"Most of what you've heard, read or been told about the End Times is wrong," says popular radio host and bestselling apologist, Hank Hanegraaff. "We have come to accept a wide range of beliefs and teachings about the future, about the ultimate battle between good and evil, about the last days, and about how our world will end. And most of these beliefs and teachings are based on fundamental misinterpretations of what the scriptures really say about the end times."

The Apocalypse Code helps readers understand what the Bible really says about End Times, and why what we believe matters so much in today's world.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Overly Narrow Presentation with Many Omissions.......2007-10-14

I highly respect Hank Hanegraff, and my bookshelf is lined with his books. If Hank speaks, I listen. In this case, his principles for interpreting end-times passages are something every Christian should take to heart. However, I feel that his treatment of the subject matter was overly narrow to the point of undermining his point.

People may recognize me as the author of "Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the Rapture," which is considered one of the "classic" defenses of the prewrath rapture. Since its publication almost a decade ago, however, readers have flooded me with questions. Some of those questions (unbeknownst to the askers) have forced me to deal with fundamental weaknesses in the entire premillennial scheme. This has made me willing to at least give non-premils like Hanegraff a fair hearing.

Okay, convince me. The result? This book reinforced my existing concerns, but it provided no satisfactory solutions.

If you take ONLY the passages Hanegraff discusses, then this is a powerful presentation for the fulfillment of Jesus' Matthew 24 prophecy in the first century. But there are internal contradictions and huge omissions that ruin the book for me.

Hanegraff criticizes futurists, for example, for placing a 2000-year gap between the disciples' question in Matthew 24:2 and Jesus' answer in verse three. This is a legitimate point. However, he then argues that the destruction of the temple was the fulfillment of Matthew 24:31, but ignores the "end of the world" context from there to the end of the chapter. Was Matthew 24:32 ff. fulfilled in the first century? If so, how does it fit the historical context? Is its fulfillment yet future? If so, how does Hank get there from v. 31? He never says.

Hank also relies heavily - if not exclusively - on Old Testament referents to interpret Jesus' words about his "coming on the clouds" in Matthew 24:30-31. Again, a good point. Yet, he ignores the fact that that Paul uses identical language to describe Jesus' Second Coming in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which Hanegraff does NOT believe occurred in the first century. Moreover, Hanegraff never addresses the apparent contradiction that Jesus' language in this passage is concrete, not apocalyptic, and inserting an apocalyptic interpretation into a concrete passage violates Hanegraff's own rules of scriptural synergy.

Hanegraff also addresses the letters to the churches and the visions in Revelation, but he omits discussion of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. He seems to believe that they are part of the trifold judgment on Jerusalem, but he never discusses how the fulfillment of even one of them can be explained. And he does seem to believe that the description in Revelation 19 is describing the end of the world, but since he seems to believe everything else relates to the first century, on what basis does he get there? Again, he allows the same kind of 2000-year jump for which he criticizes futurists.

Hank bases his partial preterist argument on a pre-A.D. 70 date for the writing of Revelation. His argument is founded, in part, on the fact that if the destruction of the temple had occurred before its writing, why didn't John mention it? If this is the logic, then it raises the correspondingly legitimate question: If the A.D. 70 destruction of the temple was widely understood to be the fulfillment of many end-times prophecies, why were the first and second century church fathers still looking for a future tribulation and future Antichrist? This is not a long span of time.

These are questions Hanegraff simply never addresses. As a result, the book fell flat for me. For serious students of the end times, it does make some very good points. But if you are looking for the answer to the end-times puzzle, I'm afraid this book creates more questions than answers.

5 out of 5 stars The Antidote for "Left Behind".......2007-10-14

This book will not cause a sensation like Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" or Tim LaHaye's "Left Behind" series. However, it is a much more credible resource in understanding The Book of Revelation. Like a detective or a research scientist, Hanegraaff uses the Bible itself and actual historical facts to explain Revelation's cryptic but powerful message. Symbols and patterns which are found in the Old Testament are used in Revelation. In addition Revelation conforms to the time and place in which it was written, the first century Roman Empire. Revelation was easily understood by the audience to which it was addressed. Modern doomsday peddlers have muddled it up. Hanegraaff doesn't allow his own imaginitive flights of fancy to dictate his research. Therefore, you will not find any nuclear bombs, implanted microchips, tanks, or attack helicopters in this book.

Hanegraaff unmasks dispensationalism, the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine, and "Christian Zionism" for what they are, concoctions started by Charles Darby in the 19th century and perpetrated by a cadre of modern day false prophets. None of these doctrines are found in the New Testament and were never espoused by any of the apostles or early church fathers.

The idea of a secret rapture prior to the Great Tribulation is completely fabricated yet is being espoused by multi-million dollar television conglomerates and mega-evangelists as the new orthodoxy and those who dare to challenge it are branded as heretics or anti-semitic by self-aggrandizing windbags like John Hagee (see my review of his doomsday book).

I salute Hank Hanegraaff for having the knowledge, the intelligence, and the guts to stand up to these pulpit bullies.

To place the tribulations of Revelation in the 21st century is to make a liar and deceiver out of Jesus and the Apostle John. It also trivializes the horrendous tribulations and sufferings early Christians had to endure at the hands of the Romans. Hanegraaff demonstrates how Revelation was addressed to Christians about to face the greatest tribulations of all, the Neronian purgings in Rome and the destruction of Jerusalem.

Hanegraaff allows Revelation to date itself rather than a third century church father, Irenaeus, who also claimed Jesus was crucified at the age of fifty. Revelation refers to Jerusalem and the Temple as currently existing entities. Dating Revelation after 70 C.E. is like writing a post 9/11 history of New York city without ever mentioning the event. WHY WOULD JOHN WRITE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA MINOR ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN FOR ANOTHER 2,000 YEARS?!!!

Hanegraaff links Revelation's "harlot" to ancient Israel. This is no more anti-Semitic than the prophets Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Hosea who used the same terminology in rebuking Israel in their times. I would add that the Dead Sea community also rejected their current Jewish establishment as well as the Jewish Christian Ebionites. LaHaye's identification of the "harlot" with the Roman Catholic church, which came about over 200 years after Revelation, shows his ignorance and mean spirit.

Hanegraaff demonstrates how the "Son of Man coming in the clouds" refers to Jesus' enthronement in Heaven rather than his second coming. The seven kings (Caesars), five who have fallen, conforms to the time of Nero, who was considered a "beast" by Roman writers such as Seutonius. Hanegraaff also demonstrates how the number 666 is a cryptic reference to the name Caesar Nero (refer also to Kenneth Gentry's excellent book "The Beast of Revelation"). The end of the age which Jesus told his disciples would occur in their generation was not the end of the cosmos, but the end of the current age in which they were living.

Hanegraaff also debunks new-age fascination with the Gnostic Gospels, ie. The Gospel of Judas, which were third century fairy tales and parasitic with respect to the canonical Gospels. He also disputes the idea that anti-Semitism motivated the canonization of The New Testament which is espoused by modern scholars like Bart Ehrman. I stand by Ehrman's view of Jesus as an apocalyptic prophet (see my review) but I agree with Hanegraaff on the previous point. The books of The New Testament were written long before Christians had the power to undermine Judaism or anything else.

Finally, Hanegraaff exposes the nonsense of "Christian Zionism" which is a by-product of dispensationalism. The idea of rebuilding the Temple and reinstituting the sacrificial system completely negates the core belief of the earliest followers of Jesus which is clearly spelled out in the New Testament, especially the book of Hebrews which states that Jesus' crucifixion put an end to animal sacrifice once and for all. The New Testament makes it abundantly clear to anyone who can read it for themselves - THE LORD'S THRONE IS IN HEAVEN AND NOT ON ANY PIECE OF TANGIBLE REAL ESTATE!!!

Hanegraaff points out that bad theology leads to bad politics and that the forced removal of Palestinians is not only unethical but unbiblical as well. For example, Pat Robertson linking Ariel Sharon's stroke and Yitzhak Rabin's assassination to their negotiating with Palestinians and Michael Evans' claiming George W. Bush was under a curse for criticizing Israel are as looney as trying to breed cattle to produce a red heifer.

I would advise Jewish people not to be conned by "Christian Zionists" who believe that Israel will be restored to its original borders and the Temple will be rebuilt only to have it taken over by the "Anti-Christ". Then, after all the good Christians (dispensationalists) are raptured, the Jews will endure a tribulation that will make the Holocaust look like child's play. At the very end, unbelievers, including Jews who don't accept Jesus, will be thrown into the "lake of fire".

What a deal!!! Trust me, you're better off negotiating with the Palestinians!

5 out of 5 stars Great book to get started with.......2007-10-13

I found this book did a lot to crystallize my thinking on this subject of End Times. I enjoyed it more the second time I read it and learn even more than the first. I spent 20 year attending a Pre-Trib/Pre-Mil church and hearing the Hal Lindsey-like descriptions of the soon coming tribulation. Somehow the popular view of End Times being preached seemed to stretch my imagination so I always maintained silence and impartiality.

Hank does a great job to showing that those prescribing to the views of Tim LaHay and crowd are erroneous in their interpretation of scripture...and I agree! What used to once be confusing is now becoming clearer. I am having to re-think my entire view of Eschatology (for the better I suspect). Hank does NOT tell you what to think and what view is "correct". What he does is challenge the reader to interpret the scriptures according to a model of biblical interpretation L-I-G-H-T-S. Those who have listened to Hank are not surprised at the acronym since he uses these tools to help memorize methods and concepts, as he does in this book. This is not the end all book on hermeneutics: other good resources are The Bible Doesn't Have to Be Hard to Read and How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

Hank's book has a lot of information in the appendix too..don't over look it.

3 out of 5 stars Dispensationalists Beware!!.......2007-10-07

Kudos to Hank Hanegraaff for yet another powerful book exposing questionable doctrines which have risen to popularity within the Christian Church. In "Apocalypse Code", Hank goes through the history and forces behind the dispensationalist movement which has gained strength in the last 10 years with the "Left Behind" series. As always, Hank approaches the reading of Revalations and other Bible prophesy from the perspective of LIGHTS - the acronym explaining proper principles of bible interpretation. In the book, Hank spends the first quarter of the book just reminding the reader how to read scriptures "for all it's worth".

The book spends most of its pages refuting the dispensationalist author Tim LaHaye. This is really the whole thrust of the book. When Hank mentioned he was starting this project on his radio program, I had high hopes that Hank would not just refute dispensationalism, but go into great detail about the whole spectrum of end time prophesy interpretations. By only focusing on refuting dispensationalism, he leaves woefully short the other interpretations (biblically correct or not) and instead challenges the reader to figure it out for himself. While clearly a partial pretarist, he only briefly talks about full pretarism and pretrib/postrib interpretations and all the rest. GIVE ME MORE MEAT HERE!

I suppose such a wish from me would have resulted in a book 3-4 times longer than this one, but it would have been more enlightening and easier to have in one resource. However, "Apocalypse Code" would be a great resource for anyone who got caught in the "Left Behind" hype and found some or all of the interpretations hard to buy into and need to seek help learning that their bologne indicators were probably right.

3 out of 5 stars good, but could have been much better.......2007-09-08

I had high hopes for this book. After studying the Partial Preterist view for a few years with a very skeptical mind, I became convinced. Given Hanegraaff's reputation, the length of the book, and the table of contents I thought sure this would be the definitive book to explain the position, but alas. Here are a few points
1. I think the average reader won't know anything about this view. Hank should have explained the underlying suppositions more. Still, the basics are there for anyone to investigate further.
2. It is important to learn this veiw methodically since it is so radically different from any futurist view, and remarkably different from the Amillenialist view. Hank doesn't present it methodically, rather it is presented somewhat piecemeal. Still, it does present the most important points so it is very valuable.
3. Even for someone like me who has read extensively, this book is not written particularly well. He is a bit vague and doesn't present the material very clearly. This is a style issue, not content. Still, for the person who wants to know and reads the references, it is a good beginning.
All in all, I was dissatisfied but I am glad it is out there. If this view is correct (and I think it is) it will revolutionize the thinking of believers, from what's coming in the future to our understanding of the nature of God Himself.
Getting Organized: Learning How to Focus, Organize and Prioritize
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Should be on your bookshelf
  • Practical ideas that produce results
  • a nice, integrated system
  • Look at the reviews carefully
  • Will only be helpful for a few.
Getting Organized: Learning How to Focus, Organize and Prioritize
Chris Crouch
Manufacturer: Dawson Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0975868098

Book Description

Getting Organized is a collection of simple ideas that address at least six major issues that could be generating chaos and disorder in your life. These ideas are presented in a simple format, with specific suggestions on how to put each idea to work, so busy people can find the time to read and try them. Simply stated, Getting Organized will help you improve your ability to focus, organize and prioritize.

Getting Organized includes tips, ideas and recommendations that are being successfully taught by corporate trainers and professional organizers in GO System training sessions all over the country. Even if you've tried unsuccessfully to get organized before, consider reading Getting Organized. You'll find effective solutions to your organizing challenges and will enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Should be on your bookshelf.......2007-10-22

Chris Crouch's "Getting Organized: Improving Focus, Organization and Productivity" is a fine read which accomplishes what all good teachers do best: Imparting with vivid good humor and simplicity the wisdoms of processes taken beyond the classroom. The target audience here, primarily workers in any workplace, calls for a most delicate balancing act: Being thoughtful and succinctly explaining the theory, practice, and results of a disciplined approach to Organization. Mr. Crouch accomplishes this masterfully with anecdotes, explanations, and his "master teacher" persona.

5 out of 5 stars Practical ideas that produce results.......2007-07-13

You won't get rich from simply reading a "How to Get Rich" book and you won't get organized and productive from just reading any book - you have to take action and implement the ideas.

I have used the principles and ideas outlined in "Getting Organized" for several years and found them to be extremely valuable.

Becoming more organized and productive is not a matter of what type of filing system or PDA you use, it involves making a habit of organized and productive behavior.

This book provides concrete tools for forming those habits. Simply outstanding!

5 out of 5 stars a nice, integrated system.......2007-07-03

Crouch has some very solid ideas here, with practical applications. Worth looking at.

More at: Some thoughts from the book "Getting Organized" by Chris Crouch
[...]

1 out of 5 stars Look at the reviews carefully.......2007-05-10

I wish I would have looked at the reviews carefully before buying this piece of fluff! I now took the time to look at more than the gold stars and actually read those reviews, and it seems that 99.9% of them were written by people who have paid to have this author give seminars at their offices. I have a feeling they got a discount for each 5 star review they gave.

When you can't handle email or incoming/outgoing paperwork, no book OR seminar is going to help you ... perhaps your career path should begin with a McJob!

If you are looking for REAL organization books that apply to your home and office space, I suggest "Organizing From The Inside Out" and "Sink Reflections".

2 out of 5 stars Will only be helpful for a few........2007-04-14

The book was NOT what I was expecting based on prior reviews. This is NOT a guide to life organizing and prioritizing but rather the author's idea of handling office incoming mail, a filing reminder system for phone calls to be made and work to be done, keeping things one needs to share with another individual in a central location, and scheduling and consolidating that sharing. For those who don't need a computer to do their job, have a memory like a sieve, or are super disorganized and don't know where to begin to start, this might be helpful, otherwise, save your money. His ideas are only practical in a low volume paperwork environment and with those who have non-technical professions. Some kind of portable, daily planner or calendar or a computer syncing PDA is much more practical.
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Pragmatic, useful ideas to improve the quality of your life
  • Manage Energy - great insight.
  • Push Past Your Limit To Grow
  • Not a silly self-help book
  • Disappointing
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal
Jim Loehr , and Tony Schwartz
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743226755

Book Description

The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and

quality of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live.

As Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz demonstrate in their groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance. Their Full Engagement Training System is grounded in twenty-five years of working with great athletes -- tennis champ Monica Seles and speed-skating gold medalist Dan Jansen, to name just two -- to help them perform more effectively under brutal competitive pressures. Now this powerful, step-by-step program will help you to:

· Mobilize four key sources of energy

· Balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal

· Expand capacity in the same systematic way that elite athletes do

· Create highly specific, positive energy management rituals

The Power of Full Engagement is a highly practical, scientifically based approach to managing your energy more skillfully. It provides a clear road map to becoming more physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned -- both on and off the job.

Download Description

"We live in digital time. Our pace is rushed, rapid-fire, and relentless. Facing crushing workloads, we try to cram as much as possible into every day. We're wired up, but we're melting down. Time management is no longer a viable solution. As bestselling authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz demonstrate in this groundbreaking book, managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance. The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live your life. The Power of Full Engagement is a highly practical, scientifically based approach to managing your energy more skillfully both on and off the job. During the past decade, dozens of Fortune 500 companies have paid thousands of dollars to learn the Corporate Athlete training system. So have FBI swat teams, critical care physicians and nurses, salesmen, and stay-at-home moms. The Power of Full Engagement lays out the key training principles and provides a powerful, step-by-step program that will help you to: . Mobilize four key sources of energy . Balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal . Expand capacity in the same systematic way that elite athletes do . Create highly specific, positive energy management rituals Above all, this book provides a life-changing road map to becoming more fully engaged on and off the job, meaning physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned. "

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pragmatic, useful ideas to improve the quality of your life.......2007-10-11

I loved this book because it offers very simple, very practical ideas that busy, busy people can use to improve the quality of their lives without having to make significant behavioral changes or significant time commitments. This type of counsel is hard to come by and very valuable. The book itself is a quick, easy read -- perfect airplane reading.

5 out of 5 stars Manage Energy - great insight........2007-08-23

We need to manage our energy to perform the most important things. We often take our energy for granted and are not aware of our ebbs and flows.
We need to do the most important things when we have the most energy. We need to eat and sleep to have more energy. It originally comes from a sports performance model, but has been adapted for executives. It is also important as we grow older. Truely a new insight for me that unified a few things I ahve been learning.

3 out of 5 stars Push Past Your Limit To Grow.......2007-06-04

I felt this book's main premise was a useful idea, but nothing novel. Expanding past one's limit, followed by a rest period resulting in growth whether physical or psychological. I liked the informational nature of the book, however, I didn't care much for the examples of actual people written about in it. I understand it is used to help prove the points, but it appeared to be fluff to me and I would have liked more information to drill the point home and more sources to back up the info.

Those opinions aside, it is worthwhile, to the point and contains enough information to satisfy reading it once, but I don't expect to re-read it.

5 out of 5 stars Not a silly self-help book.......2007-05-17

At first look, the subtitle "Managing Energy, Not Time" smells of another 'just do this and your life will be great' self-help book. However, this book avoids most of the simplistic approaches other books take. Outlined is excellent, yet straightforward guidance on how to bring into balance a work life that is out of control or at least a bit out of whack. The simple advice given (which regretfully requires some basic self discipline - I prefer to avoid self discipline) is both helpful and if followed, effective. The book is relatively careful not to imply that applying its principles or introducing self discipline is easy. It is, however, unapologetic when suggesting that making a set of changes in how one manages one's life will make a difference. The book also lays out a very helpful distinction between one's energy and one's time - and it is a very helpful distinction - describing a truth that I had not before carefully considered. The book includes numerous case studies of actual people with which the authors have worked. I think you will be able to identify with a number of these case studies. If you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and/or lack balance in how your work life, home life, and downtime function, take a look at this book.

1 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2007-03-21

Nothing new here. Eat right, get plenty of sleep and drink your water and you too can have more energy. I have to agree with other reviewers that state that this book is poorly written. Instead of providing a method for creating your own energy plan, the authors give simple hazy case examples.

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  7. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
  8. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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