Book Description
There's an elephant in the room that everyone knows about but no one is acknowledging. The elephant is implicit and undiscussable and lurks in every organization. Everyone talks around the elephant and thinks that everyone else knows about the elephant. But, until the elephant's presence is made explicit, the level of dialogue and therefore the quality of decision-making is limited. Sound familiar?
Using NASA's tragic accidents and Enron's bankruptcy as examples of the price of not having open, constructive dialogue, the book shows how great companies create an environment that encourages and listens to input from all levels of the organization.
After reading this book, you'll understand: The role of assumptions and multiple realities; why surfacing assumptions is so important; how to have constructive dialogue; why arrogance, hubris and smart talk gets in the way of constructive dialogue; and what strategies you can use to name the elephants in your organization.
Customer Reviews:
A helpful book on organizational truth-telling.......2007-09-22
This is an excellent book about truth-telling in organizations. We've all heard the line about the elephant in the room that everybody sees, but no one talks about. This wonderful little book is filled with guidelines and suggestions for how to overcome organizational resistance to telling it like it is.
The centerpiece of the book is a case study of the NASA Challenger disaster (that's the shuttle that disintegrated over Texas on its re-entry because of a piece of foam that broke off and damaged a wing during take-off). It's a rather chilling story that highlights the stark contrast between NASA's espoused theories of truth-telling and "Safety First" on the one hand, and its culture of not making waves or challenging and embarrassing senior executives, on the other.
The book includes extensive discussion of how and why these "invisible" elephants grow up and thrive inside organizations. More importantly, however, it contains simple, straightforward advice on what to do - how to "name" and then discuss the elephants and their implications.
I particularly liked this brief summary of the core message, on page 32:
"Naming elephants is a three-part process. First, identify what is undiscussable, or name the elephant. Second, surface the underlying assumptions people have about the elephant of the situation. This creates the opportunity to view all the ways people see the reality of the situation (multiple realities). Third, learn how to have constructive dialogue involving Tops, Middles, and Bottoms."
Easier said than done, I know. But if you read this little book cover to cover, you'll be a whole lot better at doing what has to be done. And both you and your organization will be a whole lot more successful.
If you are looking for other books on this topic, I also recommend "The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester: A Fresh Perspective on Organizational Leadership, Culture and Behavior," by David Riveness.
Excellent synopsis of the 'why' of intervention.......2007-08-28
Neo-classical economics traditionally equates a successful or effective organisation with one that is profitable. There are some caveats around this view - can the organisation continue to be profitable over the long term, does its level of profit compare favourably with other similar organisations, and what about those many non-profit organisations where effectiveness is measured by an outcome or public good framework, rather than the bottom line?
If you suspect your organisation may not be as effective as it could be, there may be good cause to intervene in the organisations strategy system to intentionally cultivate more organisational effectiveness, and raise undiscussables. Naming Elephants provides an excellent source and synopsis of why and how anyone who has a stake in the success of the organisation could undertake this intervention, hopefully without being labelled a whistle blower, or suffering from punitive action.
The authors cover a lot of ground, using their own management consultancy experience and the lessons learnt from the reports into the Columbia and Challenger disasters. I especially liked the applicability to my own workplace, of the removal of the normalisation of deviance, the promotion of inclusive dialogue through minimising the 'Smart Talk Trap' and abstract thinking, and that environmental scanning is best done by all.
Great value - Naming Elephants has gone into my workplace Library.
Better than thin book on appreciative inquiry if you can believe it.......2006-10-24
I love this book! Simple and powerful and ever so relevant. This is a must read for anyone involved in organizational or community change. You can create healing and remove the hidden agenda's that prevent you from moving ahead. Clear and powerful work with outstanding examples. A must read.
Eating the elephant in the room one bite at a time........2006-03-26
This is a super little book that will have a huge impact on you and your organization! By following the simple steps outlined in this book you will be able to discuss the undiscussables, identify the unidentifyable, and make progress collectively like you never dreamed was possible. Another very helpful tool for your leadership toolbox!
Packs powerful insights for organizational change!.......2005-04-05
The authors examine the idea that major problems are often not 'discussable,' although they are talked about in a destructive manner, and remain implicit. The consultant should help surface these "elephants" in a constructive dialogue, and push forward to making decisions, determining what are the next steps, and following through. This practical book provides guidelines to show how to achieve organizational change by learning to name "elephants" and take action. High Reliability Organizations, which reward people for pointing out any deviations from the expected, are discussed. The style of leadership needed to achieve change through getting people to open up and constructively participate in problem solving, is explored. This thin book is both broad and deep, and proves highly informative and thought provoking. It packs powerful insights for organizational change!
Book Description
Foreword by C.K. Prahalad
Some leaders are tough as nails, like a leather-hided reptile. Others are warm, like a fur- covered mammal. But the best leaders exhibit crucial attributes of both -- and emphasize them as particular circumstances dictate.
Those who can achieve this combination have the potential for greatness. Joe White explores these characteristics, with examples of leaders ranging from tough-minded Lou Gerstner at IBM to mammalian leaders like Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines and Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. White also describes other prerequisites for truly great leadership, including a passion to develop talented people and the ability to innovate and create change. Those who have combined all these traits include Abraham Lincoln, Jack Welch, Steve Jobs, and Martin Luther King.
Most compelling are the many anecdotes from White's personal experiences -- great successes and a major disappointment, described with unusual candor.
In the long line of leadership books, this one stands out for its clarity, readability, unique metaphor, and the credentials of its author. Enlightening, encouraging, and written with warmth and humor, it is truly a book for all leaders and for those seeking to understand The Nature of Leadership.
Customer Reviews:
Taking over the world for dummies.......2007-07-13
Coming to this topic with no prior knowledge whatever, I found this book to be eminently readable, informative, entertaining, and easy to understand. Plus, I felt really smart carrying it around on the train, as if everybody assumed I was a future Eleanor Roosevelt-in-the-making. Joseph White has a very engaging style, and I found him an immensely likeable and effective teacher. He definitely knows what he is talking about, and he breaks it down for the layman, without talking down. His personal anecdotes are like icing on the cake, which keeps the book a quick and fun read. I also really enjoyed Yaron Prywes' contributions--being part of today's self-obsessed culture I loved finding out my leadership style in the Cosmo-esque survey at the back of the book. I also have an attention span eroded by over-stimulation and the Vh-1 pop-up-video type factoids gave me little nuggets of knowledge in an easily digestible format. Prywes and White make a great team, and I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to find out how to more effectively organize and influence people.
Reptile, Mammal, or Both?.......2007-03-17
Those who practice "tough love" in personal relationships (especially by parents in relationships with their children) constantly find themselves in situations that force a question to be answered: "How much do I [begin italics] really care [end italics] about this person?" Supervisors must also answer the same question each day in the business world. If I correctly understand the concept of tough love (and I may not), it requires those who practice it to make sometimes very difficult decisions which are nonetheless in the best interests of the other person involved. For example, refusing to enable behavior which - over time - could be especially harmful to that person as well as to others.
In this volume, B. Joseph White shares his own thoughts about effective, indeed "great" leadership. More specifically, as C.K. Prahalad so succinctly explains in the Foreword, White's core message is profound and clear: "The capacity to be focused on the critical economic and performance issues and at the same time be sensitive to the social dimensions of leadership - the reptilian `coldblooded and the mammalian `warm and caring' - is at the core of leadership." White asserts (and I wholly agree) that a great leader must be successful at achieving change - "important, consequential change in the results for which [she or he is] responsible. Making change successfully is a leader's greatest challenge."
Frankly, I was initially skeptical of White's use of the reptile and mammal metaphors but as I began to read this book, I soon realized that they are eminently appropriate and White reveals their relevance with admirable skill. Moreover, he includes a number of real-world exemplars such as Mannie Jackson whose name is probably unfamiliar to most of those who read the book. A former player for the Harlem Globetrotters, he later purchased the team and "brought a dying brand back to life." He saw both a need and an opportunity, he took a great risk because he had the vision to see what the once-successful organization could eventually become again, made necessary changes in how it was managed, recruited competent and principled people to help make his turnaround plan work, and eventually produced and continues to sustain strong results.
In my opinion, some of White's most valuable material is provided in Chapters 4 and 5 as he examines in detail the qualities of "reptilian excellence" and then "mammalian excellence." I commend White on his effective use of a pyramid metaphor to illustrate a three-phase process. First, having a foundation which requires a desire to be in charge in combination with ability, strength, and character. During the next phase, to maintain an appropriate balance of quite different but not mutually exclusive qualities (i.e. reptilian and mammalian) as the leadership development process continues. All great leaders know when to discipline and when to nurture...when to focus on details and when to focus on context...when to verify and control, when to trust and delegate. The material in Chapters 4 and 5 suggest the relevance of the term "tough love" to the business world. Those who complete the second phase, who aspire to become great leaders, care enough about their direct reports to hold them fully accountable for their performance and behavior. They realize that great leaders are not always popular but they are respected by everyone with whom they are associated. Their constructive criticism as well as praise is credible because those who receive either believe that it is always honest, sincere, and (yes) deserved.
Many readers will especially appreciate the Appendix which enables them to complete a self-diagnostic exercise. The results offer insights as to how each respondent likes to look at things and how she or he goes about making decisions. White: "As a current or aspiring leader, knowing your own preferences can help you identify your strengths, undersdtand what kinds of work you naturally gravitate toward, and spot the next step of your leadership development quest." White also includes an explanation of what the given scores mean. This helps each reader to determine (a) current leadership strengths and (b) other areas in which there is an apparent need for improvement.
Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Bill George's Authentic Leadership and True North, Ram Charan's Know-How, and Tom Rath's Strengths Finder 2.0.
Must Read for All Future Leaders.......2007-02-03
The Nature of Leadership by B. Joseph White is a must read for all future leaders and it belongs on your bookshelf right next to Good to Great.
White distinguishes between two kinds of leaders: analytical and quantitative "reptiles" and emotional and qualitative "mammals." Great leaders are separated from good ones by their ability leverage both reptilian and mammalian skills.
"Reptilian leadership improves the odds that an organization will survive. Mammalian leadership improves the odds that an organization will thrive"- B. Joseph White.
The exercise in the back of the book is worth its weight in gold. Studies have shown positive links between leaders self awareness and their actual performance. This exercise will make you more aware of your strengths and give you the tools to develop opportunities for growth.
As an educator and President of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, I have lent this book to promising young entrepreneurs as a text-book in leadership development.
Trite or Inane? Both.......2007-02-02
Could the animal comparison to management be any more overused? What's next, insects?
Great Food for aspired Leaders.......2007-01-28
I just finish the book. In my professional career I've seen so many good leaders and I can relate each and every point mentioned in this book. It is really a great and innovative way to look at the leadership. Book is full of examples and very well structured. I recommend it to each and every aspired leader. Once again great leadership material.
Book Description
Who you are today is a result of certain characteristics that have emerged from your life experiences, plus the genetics with which you were born. This interplay between nature and nurture is the foundation of EMERGENETICS
®, a brain-based approach to personality profiling that gives you the keys you need to discover not only your own natural strengths and talents, but also those of others. You will discover your thinking style (Conceptual, Social, Analytical, or Structural) and your behavioral set points (your degree of Expressiveness, Assertiveness, and Flexibility). These insights will help you recognize how you approach new situations, how you get things done, how others see you, how to enhance relationships, and how to communicate with people who are not like you.
Applying EMERGENETICS
® to the workplace will enable you to make optimal career decisions, boost your creativity and performance, increase profits, make better decisions, assemble "brain trust" teams, write effective performance reviews, make presentations that appeal to everyone, sell to all kinds of customers, and motivate all kinds of employees.
EMERGENETICS
® offers invaluable insights instantly, and paves the way to personal growth, satisfaction, and success.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource.......2007-09-19
This book is a must read for anyone leading people. It's a great resource for understanding how people think, work and produce more effiently. The author keeps the book very interesting by the number of examples provided. The scientific information is excellent. Not too heavy but enough to let you understand the reasons behind the information.
I wish the book provided at least a way for readers to take the test without the additional charge of taking the test individually.
Great!.......2007-01-12
This is book came sooner than expected, no smudges or evidence of being used. Book was better than described!! Good job.
Emergenetics.......2006-07-05
Its great on theory, its demonstrate we as individual are a complex being and our profile is seasonal. The main reason I bought the book is to find out about my profile and disappointed not finding any starter or basic self help tool kit in the book other than visiting the book website and an additional payment of $100 is needed before result can be delivered to me.
Very Insightful! There would be less misunderstandings in the world if everyone knew everyone else's profile!.......2006-03-20
I found this book very interesting. It is about what the author describes as the 4 thinking attributes (Social, Conceptual, Analytical and Structural) and 3 behavioral attributes (Expressiveness, Assertivess and Flexibility), how to identify attributes in people and yourself, how you can interact with others based on others attributes, how to make better decisions and how to create and work in great teams (among other things).
One of the cool things is that Dr. Browning eats her own dog food in that she applies what she is preaching in the way she wrote the book. For the analytical, there are explanations of brain activity and the science behind her findings. For the social, throughout the book, she explains how emergenetics can be beneficial to personal relationships. For the conceptual, there are colorful pictures of the different attributes that give readers the big picture and a quick glimpse of what emergenetics is about.
Another thing that I liked about the book was that I learned a good amount of information about the brain and how it works that I did not know before. The quotes sprinkled throughout the book were also interesting and timely.
This is another book to add to my aspiring WE (Whole Emergenetics) organizations' libraries. :)
Practical guide to effective team managment at the work place.......2006-03-16
Despite its clumsy name, Geil Browining's Emergenetics, offers practical and pragmatic advice on how to assess one's thinking and behavioral preferences on seven useful dimensions. Analytical, Structural, Conceptual and Social cover the thinking preferences and Expressiveness, Assertiveness and Flexibility cover the behavioral preferences. Emergenetics is the practice of developing thinking and behavior profiles on hundreds of thousands of individuals, analyzing these profiles for general understanding of individuals and groups and applying them to the improvement of personal and team effectiveness. Although the book doesn't discuss how profiles are generated, there is enough material to provide useful guidance to the reader in identifying and assessing these preferences in yourself and others.
Book Description
Why do women stabilize our societies? Why can we enjoy and understand Shakespeare? Why are fruitflies uniform? Why do omnivorous eating habits aid our survival? Why is Mona Lisa’s smile beautiful? – Is there any answer to these questions? This book shows that the statement: "weak links stabilize complex systems" holds the answers to all of the surprising questions above. The author (recipient of several distinguished science communication prizes) uses weak (low affinity, low probability) interactions as a thread to introduce a vast variety of networks from proteins to ecosystems. Many people, from Nobel Laureates to high-school students have helped to make the book understandable to all interested readers. This unique book and the ideas it develops will have a significant impact on many, seemingly diverse, fields of study.
Customer Reviews:
Primer on real-life networks with a theme .......2007-02-02
If you ever needed another good reason to value your grandmother even more, you'll find the answer in "Weak links".
Structurally, his book starts with an exposition on network theory and
terminology, then the application and discussion of these concepts to
real-life complex systems on many scales and applied to many domains (physical, natural, technological, social). His main point is, as the reviewer noted above, that 'weak' links (weak: additional/removal does not statistically affect the average of some metric) stabilize systems.
The book has thorough footnotes, one can delve as deep as one would like
into the professional papers. In addition, Csermely is an honest scholar - he shows his hands when there is mere speculation (you have to see the book's unique pictograms to appreciate the effects)
After pouring through several alternatives, I have adopted this book as a
textbook for my Science of Networks class (I'm CS fac at an elite US liberal arts school), and I recommend it to anyone without hesitation for a readable, and learned exposition.
I only have two or three caveats from a specialist's point of view: The
phenomenological discovery of power laws in complex systems is not unusual
and may not be evidence of any SF properties. Scale-free is an abused
term, and I wish the controversy about it were explained a bit more. Also, from a modelling point of view, I wish Doyle and Carlson's work on HOT systems were discussed in more depth.
But these are minor points, relatively speaking. This is a gem of a book:
erudite, humane, funny, accessible and thoroughly fascinating. On every
page, there are delights that lead down new intellectual paths.
Csermely did a great service to pedagogy and to this budding science with
this magisterial survey. Outstanding in its ease of access for intelligent
undergraduates and commendable for intellectual honesty - I wish more
books (textbooks and otherwise) were written this way.
Weak Links Stabilize Complex Systems.......2006-05-13
It is an intriguing concept.
Weak links, invisible in many networks, are critical to its stability. In this book, Peter Csermely shows that all networks, from the universe to molecules are governed by the same principles. Regardless of the system -- atoms, cells, companies, web pages or countries -- surprisingly, the weak links stabilize each.
Csermely, a professor at Semmelweis University in Budapest, a former Fogarty Fellow at Harvard University, is a molecular chaperones specialist. In 2003, he became fascinated by the concept of affinity -- a network's stabilizing components of must have weak links to the other components. These weak links act as hubs. Attack the hubs; disrupt the network.
Csermely demonstrates the concept hold true in field after field. The professor begins his study with a discussion of the Granovetter study of a job search and then proceeds to describe network dynamics. By chapter four, the reader is ready to be introduced to the concept of weak links as universal stabilizers. Then, the professor conducts a network tour ranging from macromolecules to the planet earth. Finally he ends with a discussion of weak links, stability landscapes and game theory.
Surprisingly, his book is understandable, even to non-academics. It is loaded with gems that can be applied to the reader's networks and relationships.
This is not a book I would have ever picked up on my own. Thankfully, Professor Csermely sent me an advanced copy. It is a unique book that takes a thorough look at an intriguing concept.
Book Description
Developed by The Environmental Careers Organization (ECO, the creators of the popular Complete Guide to Environmental Careers), this new volume is unlike any careers book you've seen before. Reaching far beyond job titles and resume tips, The ECO Guide immerses you in the strategies and tactics that leading edge professionals are using to tackle pressing problems and create innovative solutions.
To bring you definitive information from the real world of environmental problem-solving, The ECO Guide has engaged some of the nation's most respected experts to explain the issues and describe what's being done about them today. You'll explore: Global climate change with Eileen Claussen, Pew Center for Global Climate Change; Biodiversity loss with Stuart Pimm, Nicholas School for the Environment at Duke University; Green Business with Stuart Hart, Kenan-Flager Business School at University of North Carolina; Ecotourism with Martha Honey, The International Ecotourism Society; Environmental Justice with Robert Bullard, Environmental Justice Center at Clark Atlanta University; Alternative Energy with Seth Dunn, Worldwatch Institute; Water Quality with Sandra Postel, Global Water Policy Project; Green Architecture with William McDonough, McDonough + Partners; and twelve other critical issues.
To demonstrate even more clearly what eco-work feels like on the ground, The ECO Guide offers vivid "Career Snapshots" of selected employers and the professionals that work there. You'll visit government agencies, nonprofit organizations and local advocates. You'll go inside environmental businesses like Wildland Adventures and Stonyfield Farms. And you'll learn from academic institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics.
ECO also describes forty specific jobs that are representative of environmental career opportunities in the twenty-first century. It provides dozens of the best Internet resources.
Customer Reviews:
A starting point for identifying such positions.......2005-04-09
In a global world struggling with ecological health issues, how can a budding businessperson select a career which will make a difference? By starting with The ECO Guide to Careers that Make a Difference: Environmental Work For A Sustainable World, which provides a starting point for identifying such positions. Professionals working in different industries provide insights, cover issues, and describe positive solutions being pursued. With its review of both major issues and major career opportunities, The ECO Guide To Careers That Make A Difference is not to be missed.
Average customer rating:
- A thorough study of the history of quantum physics and an exhaustive description of how order emerges from chaos
- A classic on self-organization
- Dissipative structures what? Chaos
- A popularization of chaos and its philosophical implications
|
Order Out of Chaos
Ilya Prigogine
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Job Hunting & Careers
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
| General
| Guides
| Interviewing
| Job Hunting
| Job Markets & Advice
| Resumes
| Vocational Guidance
| Volunteer Work
General
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Chaos & Systems
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Philosophy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Chaos & Systems
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Reference Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Science Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The End of Certainty
-
Exploring Complexity: An Introduction
-
Is Future Given?
-
Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
-
Emergence: From Chaos to Order (Helix Books)
ASIN: 0553343637
Release Date: 1984-03-01 |
Customer Reviews:
A thorough study of the history of quantum physics and an exhaustive description of how order emerges from chaos .......2006-12-01
Prigogine describes his ideas of how order emerged from a ground of chaos and how the processes of entropy can lead a system open to its environment to evolve greater complexity. He also gives an exposition of the relevance of science to society. Prigogine's Nobel prize-winning models of dissipative structures are difficult to understand but persistent effort will reward the reader. His theories are as applicable to the evolution and expansion of consciousness as to the emergence of life on earth from a relatively simple environment.
A classic on self-organization.......2004-05-09
This work is one of the classics of the breakthrough period of chaos theory, complex systems, and self-organization theories. Mixing two modes and two cultures it stretches its bow between the nitty-gritty details of dissipative systems, and the history of the relations of the human and natural sciences, from the age of the emergence of thermodynamics to the present. The book has something now routinely filtered from discussion, the early critiques of the Newtonian mindset as it was starting to become dominant. The material on the history of the two cultures would seem to fall on deaf ears these days, and gives the book at depth not often seen in works of this type. Very much worth reading.
Dissipative structures what? Chaos.......1997-11-20
The whole problem with writing about a book, and especially this one, is that one has to cut a long story short. A story long enough to encompass a fair amount of scientific history - elaborated, if not referenced exhaustively. Not that it is meant to be. Prigogine's journey does not offer to take you by the hand for a guided tour of order, complexity and self-organisation. Rather, it keeps to the spirit of Toffler's introduction, (Was it coincidental that it was the other way round?!) where he talks about the wonderful art of scientific dissection. Order out of chaos, however, is a difficult read for the anyone who has been initiated into the scientific non-fiction. For those who expect the book to be a popular account of concepts in complexity and self-organisation, the intense style and the depth of detail can be exhausting. Like Penrose in the Emperor's New Mind, Prigogine's style is uncompromising. Toffler's introduction is fitting, if only in parts. The book does not offer explanations. Rather, Prigogine prefers to illumate his readers with his keen philosophical bent. It is here that the book triumphs. The effort that has gone into integrating the ideas in the book, the subtle nuances reflecting Prigogine's own views is truly commendable. But then, one should be fairly conversant with the loopholes that science finds itself in. The description of the behaviour of complex systems warrants some mention. The idea of switching between reality and mathematical description does not gel with the rest of the narrative in parts - specially when chemistry is the running example. Well, Prigogine wasn't writing the book with the intention of it being self-contained - and he makes no bones about it. That is the seed of inspiration, I suppose, for any writer, be it for the cause of science or for the sheer love for the written word. Prigogine has shown that philosophy is in some way inseparable from what many consider the scientist's playground. And we are glad that he has shared his views with us.
A popularization of chaos and its philosophical implications.......1996-12-24
Prigogine argues persuasively that he has reconciled classical
dynamics with the human conviction that the future cannot be
predicted from a knowledge of initial conditions and differential equations alone.
He draws the reader through his own intellectual odyssey from
classical thermodynamics, through linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and finally
to his holy grail of nonlinear nonequilibrium thermodynamics. I suspect he has
identified the quantitative tools that will connect the Human Genome Project to a functional
understanding of cell biology and physiology. Tools capable of dealing with complexity.
If you are a scientist who has followed these disciplines from afar, and who has
wished for a succinct summary that does not shrink from rigor, then acquire this book.
You will chuckle at the constant barbs directed across the English Channel, and you will
learn wonderful things about thermodynamics and thermokinetics.
So few scientific books reveal the authors' insights. Instead, they teem with facts and formulas.
Prigogine and Stengers have bedded physics with philosophy as if they were matchmakers for
an illicit tryst. You will find yourself whispering, "Aha!"
And you will, as I have, wear out your pen with underlining.
I loved Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World", but Sagan was speaking to everyman.
Prigogine and Stengers are speaking to scientists in fields outside their own.
They believe they have seen the light, and they want you to see it too. Give them the chance to convince you.
You will not be disappointed.
Book Description
This comprehensive course on salesmanship, negotiation and management teaches you how to outsell, outmanage, outmotivate and outnegotiate your competition.
Swim With The Sharks has won praise from a remarkable and diverse following, including Governor Mario Cuomo of New York, Gloria Steinem and Ted Koppel.
Harvey Mackay, the man who built a multi-million dollar international envelope manufacturing company, new shares his winning techniques for professional and personal success. He offers an agenda for achievement through a series of "lessons" featuring the Mackay 66 -- an in-depth customer profile designed to give you the edge -- and invaluable "quickies" on business and life -- " Make Your Decisions with Your Heart, and What You'll End Up with Is Heart Disease;" "How to Handle the Tough Prospect;" among many others.
In the bestselling tradition of Tom Peters, Donald Trump and Mark McCormack, here is sound advice for anyone who wants to be a winner in any field.
Swim With The Sharks is the new "success" bible by the man Fortune magazine called "Mr. Make-Things-Happen."
Customer Reviews:
Uncle Harvey Sets Us Straight.......2007-10-05
Wily ol' Harvey MacKay is a prototypical midwestern multimillionare. This means that even at his most Machiavellian, he comes across as a charming, down-to-earth folksy everyman - just the sort of person James Stewart used to play. This is Mr. MacKay's first book and it's well-worth reading for anybody who'd like to know more about why some people succeed in business while most fail. Some may dismiss many of Mr. MacKay's advice as merely 'common sense' but given that so many of us fall short of financial and personal success I doubt that the knowledge in here is all that common.
On the positive side, we have a successful business leader who stresses the importance of ethics, personal integrity, and steady hard work. I've rarely encountered a management or business-oriented author who stressed strength of character as much as Mr. MacKay does. He also tells personal anecdotes with a refreshing lack of swagger. This book may have first been written in the 1980s but Harvey MacKay does not reflect the Era of Greed at all. It's little wonder he's in demand as an inspirational public speaker, and that he still publishes a weekly advice/inspiration column.
Of course, in any book this old, there are bound to be dated sections and those are the only real negatives. Mr. MacKay's hiring practices (in which employees are visited and interviewed in their own homes so that he can learn more about their family values, yet in which no one calls to verify personal references) would raise a lot of eyebrows today. There's also an over-reliance on sports analogies. Other reviewers have noted this but I would like to add that Mr. MacKay's love of sports anecdotes reflects his age, because sports heroes and coaches of the past were not the money-driven free agents of today.
In sum, this would be a good graduation gift, or a welcome present for anyone beginning a job within the corporate world. Unlike many advice books, I left this one not only with good advice but also with a sense of who the author really was. And, I have to say, I enjoy Harvey MacKay a lot.
Outstanding.......2007-08-04
It is impossible for a first time writer to come up with a business bestseller that gives out no-nonsense advice. But then, this is Havrey and he does push the envelop when it comes to enthusiastic salesmanship.
A Must Read For Business .......2007-05-14
This is Harvey Mackays first book, and true masterpiece. This book has so much information on how to navigate your career that it is sure to have an impact on you. Harvey has built two successful careers (the envelope business and as one of the country's highest sought public speakers) by living the advice in his book. This is not theory, it is all examples of things that he has done regularly throughout his life that have lead him to great success.
This book ranks as one of the business world's "Must Reads".
Harvey Mackay is the best!.......2007-02-21
All of Harvey Mackay's books are AWESOME! I love listening to his audio books....he has a good voice and they have helped me very much in relationships in my business! Highly recommended book...and author!
great and nice to read!.......2006-08-08
Mackay really knows how to write an interesting and enjoyable book. I read it within 3 days as some of the rules are very intuitive to understand! Good book!
Book Description
Award-winning garden writer Suzy Bales shares her sage advice, culled from 30 years of experience, on how to create your own garden wonderlandSuzy Bales not only gardens with the greenest of thumbs, but she imparts her gardening wisdom with a friendly, storytelling voice that is both charming and informative. Millions have delighted in her gardening columns for Family Circle, Horticulture, The New York Times, and other publications, as well as her garden spots on Good Morning America. In Suzy Bales' Down-to-Earth Gardener, she invites readers on a tour of her spectacular Long Island garden, sharing her triumphs and defeats and dispensing her invaluable advice along the way.Laid out as a stunning visual tour-from the woodland walk around the formal rose garden to the flagstone courtyard and to the kitchen garden-the more than 150 full-color pictures beautifully illustrate the lessons Suzy imparts in the text. Packed with the "down-to-earth" gardening secrets of the woman who has won two Quill amp; Trowel awards from the Garden Writers Association of America, as well as been named Garden Writer of the Year from the American Horticultural Society, this is inspirational reading for any gardener.
Customer Reviews:
Bought for a gardener.......2006-08-06
I actually don't garden, but I purchased this book for my mother. She absolutely loves it. I think she has read it from cover to cover. I personally don't know what a book on gardening should contain, but my mother finds the book very informative.
Book Description
A step by step guide to breeding your mare, caring for her during pregnancy, and looking after her and her foal during the first few hours of the foal's life.
Books:
- Up Close and Personal
- Value Driven Intellectual Capital: How to Convert Intangible Corporate Assets Into Market Value
- West Federal Taxation 2007: Individual Income Taxes, Volume 1, Professional Edition (West Federal Taxation Individual Income Taxes)
- What the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know: A CPA Reveals the Tricks of the Trade (What the Irs Doesn't Want You to Know)
- What Your Boss Doesn't Tell You Until It's Too Late: How to Correct Behavior That Is Holding You Back
- Wiley CIA Exam Review (4-Volume Set)
- Wiley CPA Exam Review 2007 4-volume Set (Wiley Cpa Examination Review (4 Vol Set))
- Wiley GAAP 2007: Interpretation and Application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Wiley Gaap)
- Wiley IFRS 2007: Interpretation and Application of International Financial Reporting Standards
- Wiley IFRS 2007: Interpretation and Application of International Financial Reporting Standards
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Five Minds for the Future
- The Indian in the Cupboard
- Maximum Effectiveness: Your Guide to Maximum Success in Sales, Marketing, Management, Client Satisfa
- Models for Ecological Data: An Introduction
- Secrecy and Liberty:National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
- The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader
- The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders
- Mcgraw-hill's Homework Manager User's Guide And Access Code
- The Bay of Love and Sorrows
Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry (2nd edition) (Thin Book Series)
Appreciative Team Building: Positive Questions to Bring Out the Best of Your Team
How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work: Seven Languages for Transformation
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change
Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change
![Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0061234001.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
