Book Description
The simple revolution has begun. From the design of the iPod to the uncluttered Google home page, simple ideas are changing the world.
Simple Church clearly calls for Christians to return to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles required, so to speak.
Based on case studies of four hundred American churches, authors Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger prove that the process for making disciples has quite often become too complex. Simple churches are thriving, and they are doing so by taking these four ideas to heart: Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus.
Each idea is examined here, simply showing why it is time to simplify.
Customer Reviews:
This will change the way you do church........2007-10-20
Rainer and Geiger are not rebuilding the wheel with this book, a lot of it is information that we inherently know but have forgotten in the church. Church has gotten too complicated and they are challenging us to make it more direct and simple. They are challenging the church to make disciples. This book is amazing and I don't know one pastor who has read it that wasn't convicted of some things afterwards.
Concise and practical.......2007-09-07
Well, it would be awfully ironic if the book wasn't easy to understand. Fortunately, the authors do with the book exactly what they are calling leaders to do with their churches. They outline a simple structure for streamlining churches and letting loose the baggage that slows churches down.
The process is...simple (sorry to repeat). Churches should seek clarity, alignment, movement, and focus. Clarity is the singleness of purpose, stated in a single phrase. Movement is making sure there is a process of spiritual development that runs through the ministries of the church that fulfills the purpose. Alignment is the process of making sure that all the ministries of the church cannel people through a similar movement to fulfill the purpose. And focus is the challenging process of saying "no" to everything that distracts the church from its purpose. The authors have decided on this clear process as a saving grace to churches, repeat it fluidly, and walk the reader through all four steps.
The theory is based on a study of a number of churches that were considered thriving and many that were not. The authors say that their data shows highly significant difference between thriving churches that simplified and complex churches that did not.
The only part of this book, or the genre, that ought to give the reader pause is that the authors presume that ministry requires a strategic process through which people are funneled on the way to spiritual growth. While that is the reality of modern, institutional church management, it seems to overrule the fluid and organic (if not disorganized) ministry of Jesus and the disciples while co-opting their names. This is not a major critique of the book, just the observation that business management principles are governing the church whose founder had very little to say about business management.
Nonetheless, for those of us who find ourselves dealing with the necessities of management, this book is an essential read. It's well-written, accessible, and offers the bird's eye view that a lot of churches miss.
Good for discipleship and Church Growth.......2007-08-29
This is an excellent book that tells pastors and church leaders to keep it simple, rather than complex and this book tells you how. The basic premise of this book is that simple sells and that keeping it simple and maintaining focus is the best method of discipleship and church growth. If you have been trying to write long vision statements or missions statement or purpose statement and have come away frustrated, then this book is for you.
Simple, but could be simpler.......2007-08-23
I think this book will help many traditional North American churches to lower the bar of how church is done and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple (to borrow from Neil Cole). But as a former pastor who has recently begun to enjoy the simplicity of a network of microchurches that has no paid staff, no building to maintain or enlarge, and yet enough time to be a small army of disciple-makers, I find Rainer & Geiger more complex than is necessary. If you like simple, you might like simpler even better!
Excellent example of making things simple.......2007-07-22
Simple church not only explained clearly how necessary it is to simplify our way of doing church,or more precisely making disciples, the book was a very good example of doing this. The demonstrated and illustrated in a straightforward way and the process suggested was very simple to follow and easy to apply. Great job!
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:
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Book Description
Why do some students in the United States make the most of college, while others struggle and look back on years of missed opportunities? What choices can students make, and what can teachers and university leaders do to improve more students' experiences and help them make the most of their time and monetary investment? And how is greater diversity on campus--cultural, racial, and religious--affecting education? How can students and faculty benefit from differences and learn from the inevitable moments of misunderstanding and awkwardness?
Two Harvard University Presidents invited Richard Light and his colleagues to explore these questions, resulting in ten years of interviews with 1,600 Harvard students. Making the Most of College offers concrete advice on choosing classes, talking productively with advisors, improving writing and study skills, maximizing the value of research assignments, and connecting learning inside the classroom with the rest of life.
The stories that students shared with Light and his colleagues about their experiences of inspiration, frustration, and discovery fill the book with spirit. Some of the anecdotes are funny, some are moving, and some are surprising. Many are wise--especially about the ways of getting the best, in classroom and dormitory, from the new racial and ethnic diversity.
Filled with practical advice, illuminated with stories of real students' self-doubts, failures, discoveries, and hopes, Making the Most of College presents strategies for academic success.
Customer Reviews:
So you've been admitted to a top school; now what?.......2007-06-13
If you are interested in this book, check out the hard-cover edition which is available both new and used for substantially less than the paperback.
I was introduced to this book by a friend who is heavily involved in undergraduate advising. I had not heard of Prof. Light or of this work previously, and I wonder whether it is less widely known than it deserves to be.
The title and cover of the book are a bit misleading. It could easily be mistaken for a self-help book and/or a book that covers a wide spectrum of college environments. For this, I fault the publisher rather than the author. Readers who come to it expecting one of the above will indeed find it lacking. It assumes students are motivated and goes from there. If you're looking for a book to provide motivation, this is not it.
The book in fact presents the results of ten years' research, primarily around Harvard undergraduates. To understand the context fully, one should read the first item of back matter, "The Assessment", first. There has been some attempt to generalize by involving faculty from 25 other institutions (which are neither named nor characterized), but the real focus is on Harvard.
There are good reasons for this. Harvard is a very selective place, and its administration has both the wherewithal and the motivation to make every student's experience as rich as possible in the full knowledge that for every student who disengages, there were ten other equally qualified applicants for whom there was not room. Thus, Harvard funded the study, the results are particularly applicable to it, and its own press published it. It is unrealistic to carp that the book wasn't about something else.
So who should be reading this book? Sadly enough, it should most be read by those Harvard faculty members who are not particularly interested in developing undergraduates to see what they're missing. Perhaps Harvard's recently-launched initiative in excellence in teaching will help; the question of advising remains murkier. Academic staff anywhere who aspire to do a better job in helping their students launch their adult lives are bound to find useful perspectives and practical nuggets. I think the book will be mostly lost on undergraduates; I wouldn't have understood it then, much as it might have been useful. Parents of high-potential college students might find it helpful in understanding what their children are going through, but to use it as a guide to advising their parentally-resistant (or, worse, parentally-dominated) offspring may be unproductive. Using it in a peer-advising context is a waste of time, as you can see from other reviews. I suspect there are good nuggets here for secondary school educators as well.
This book makes an interesting contrast with the more recent book, "Excellence Without a Soul" by Harry Lewis, who was the Dean of Harvard College during the time Light was finishing this book. Lewis's book reflects personal opinions on the same issues (and more); its underpinnings are based on his own experiences rather than the extensive interviewing process Light uses. Taking the two together provides even better insights than either separately.
Goodness: Among his many detailed points, Light talks (sometimes through the students) of the importance - and difficulty - of clear exposition in reporting on scientific research and of the value of evidence-based discourse, and this book provides an exemplar of both. The book is not heavy on theory with consequent bulky endnotes, and the bibliography is of reasonable size.
Quibbles: Light intermixes Harvard-specific terminology (e.g., proctor) with more generic equivalents (e.g., dorm supervisor) without making the connection for the reader. He presents most of his dilemmas from the viewpoint of a student in the social sciences, which are somewhat different from those encountered by students in the humanities or - especially - the natural sciences. There is so little indentation in the extended quotes from the students that it is sometimes hard to tell whose voice is speaking. The inner margins in both the hardcover and the paperback are so tight that it's hard to read without breaking the spine. And the editing could have been a bit tighter.
The above could easily reduce my rating by a star, but on balance I think the importance of the work and the clarity (if occasionally redundant) of the exposition overcome these. Perhaps I should say five stars if your desired frame of reference is a selective, research university, and four stars otherwise.
Better the second time around.......2006-06-02
The first time I read this book (in 2002) I wasn't at all impressed. As a student affairs professional, I kept thinking that Light (as is the case with most academics) basically ignored the role of student affairs as a significant source of student support and education. I also thought he was writing the obvious.
I re-read the book in 2005, however, and had a very different experience of it. Light refutes some of the "conventional wisdom" (such as the common feeling that it is best to get all of the "requirements" out of the way early) and backs up what he says with solid reasoning.
The major weakness of this book is it's focus on Harvard students as the research sample. The book would have gained considerable credibilty if Light had made a diligent effort to reach beyond Cambridge and beyond the Ivy League to learn what makes students at other kinds of campuses successful.
That being said, this is an important book for anyone who advises college students: faculty, academic advisors, and student affairs professionals. I would also recommend it for High School guidance counselors and parents. Students might or might not enjoy it; again, the Harvard focus could make it seem perhaps irrelevant to many.
Making the Most of Light.......2005-11-07
I am a peer academic advisor at a West Coast college. I was assigned this book as part of my peer advising training, so I read this book from the perspective of a student. Overall, I found the book mixed in its helpfulness to students.
Chapter 3, "Suggestions from Students", contains the bulk of practically useful information. The title itself underlines one of the book's key ideas: students learn from each other. While substantial student interaction occurs behinds classroom doors, Light notes correctly that "learning outside of classes, especially in residential settings and extracurricular activities such as the arts, is vital" (p. 8). More subtly, Light suggests that college leaders and other individuals must make conscious efforts to develop the kind of environment that facilitates symbiotic learning between students. He writes,
when students refer in their interviews to those that build campus culture, they do not just mean deans or residence hall directors or leaders of student organizations ... They are really characterizing _every student_, in the old-fashioned sense of believing that each person can make a difference by setting an example (p. 194, his emphasis).
Later, he continues,
deans and adults should convey to all incoming students that they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience, in their college years, a new set of people with new ideas that may challenge their own. They should encourage students to see these few precious years as a special chance to meet, work with, and get to know others who are unlike themselves (p. 196).
So far so good. The rest of the book, I felt, was short on concrete advice for students. Here, I'll mention some thoughts that occurred to me while I was reading the book.
First, despite Light's claims, I am unconvinced that his results generalize. Light is a statistician by training, and I was surprised that he did not offer any comparative statistics to substantiate his claims; as such, his work may be more aptly called Making The Most Of Harvard (or more accurately, How Faculty Can Help Students Make The Most Of Harvard).
Second, not only does Light's results not generalize across colleges, he also does not provide evidence to show that they generalize across a diverse group of students (strange, since he devotes a large part of the book to diversity). There are no tables, graphs, charts, or summary statistics that back up his claim that his results generalize; in particular, the book focused mostly on students who are ex ante driven and motivated towards success - Light says nothing about the selection bias that arises from sampling a group of Harvard students, who are more likely than not to possess the characteristics necessary for success.
All in, I found Light's book informative, but unhelpful. I will not deny that there are lessons to be learnt if one puts some thought into it. As a peer academic advisor, however, much of the book was made up of clichés, platitudes, and findings that were irrelevant to my work. Faculty and administrators, however, may find the book more useful.
Pretentious .......2005-09-21
It should have been titled, Making the Most of Harvard: Students Speak Their Minds. We were required to read this book for an English writing class. Some of the suggestions in the book are helpful, like time management and getting help if you are not scoring well but only if you read this book *before* you go to college.
Light makes suggestions that may not be feasable, including finding a class with very few students because it will be benificial. Our class also felt that Light's suggestion of picking roomates according to race is ludicrous.
3.5 Stars... Worthwhile reading for/re incoming college freshmen.......2005-07-08
My son and I went through the college search process in the past year (he'll start college next month), and we actually had quite a good time doing the college campus visits, narrowing down his choices, etc. Now that he is about to start college, I fell upon this book by accident.
"Making the Most of College" is from some professor at Harvard whom I readily admit I've never heard about before. But the author actually makes a number of (seemingly) good points that I thought made a lot of sense (disclaimer: I did not go to college in the US but in Belgium, so I cannot easily compare it to "the old days"). The book does get tedious at times,and as such is not geared to/written for incoming freshmen but more for parents and teachers. I cannot imagine too many incoming freshmen reading through the whole thing (my son certainly did not), but I did discuss certain passages of the book with him. What good (if any) it will do him, who knows... only time will tell :-)
Book Description
Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and best-selling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.
After years of struggling on the dime museum circuit, Harry Houdini got a break that put him on the front page of a Chicago newspaper. He never looked back. Soon Houdini was performing for royalty, commanding vast sums, and exploring the new power of Hollywood to expand on his legend.
At a time when spy agencies frequently co-opted amateurs, Houdini went to London and developed a relationship with a man who would run MI-5. For the next several years, the world's most famous magician traveled to Germany and Russia and routinely reported his findings.
After World War I was successfully concluded, Houdini embarked on a battle of his own. He created a group of disguised field operatives to infiltrate the seamy world of fake spirit mediums. In doing so, Houdini triggered the wrath of fanatical Spiritualists, led by the esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Death threats became an everyday occurrence, but the group would pose an even greater danger to Houdini's legacy.
Rigorously researched, and as exciting as a good thriller, The Secret Life of Houdini traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide legend, initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic. In this remarkable book, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.
Customer Reviews:
Marvelous biography of the great magician, escape artist, entertainer and...spy?.......2007-10-22
The Secret Life of Houdini is the most exhaustive look at Harry Houdini's career to date. The authors do a terrific job of covering Houdini's early life including growing up in poverty when his father a rabbi was ousted by his own followers for being too old fashioned. Born Erlich Weiss, Harry Houdini was a distant relative of another great European magician. Houdini's fascination with magic began when his father took him to a performance as a child. Houdini quickly became adept at a number of skills but his most important was his ability as an acrobat and escape artist--this brought him his fame and fortune.
The authors unearth a number of fascinating and previously unknown facts about Houdini. While I had known about his crusade against the spiritualist movement (he himself had practiced it briefly to survive as an entertainer and regreted it eventually apologizing to those that he had duped) and his talents as an inventor, I was completely unaware that he had been recruited as to "spy" on Germany and other countries while he was touring. While I found the idea a bit farfetched at first, the authors do provide some compelling evidence to suggest that Houdini did provide information to British and U.S. intelligence in various countries. I wouldn't go so far as to call him a spy but he certainly did what he would consider his patriotic duty.
The book has plenty of illustrations including rare photos, handbills, posters and other items from a variety of collections including magician David Copperfield's extensive collection of Houdini memorabilia. This is a well researched and terrifically entertaining book with a breezy prose style.
Highly recommend for fans of Houdini, those interested in magic and entertainment from the 19th and early 20th century.
Really 4.75 Stars - Fabulous Book.......2007-10-04
This book is fantastic on so many levels. One doesn't even have to like magic to appreciate this book, but it sure helps. The authors have done a wonderful job of painting the social scene, class hierarchy and the world at large during this time period. In the true style of a Houdini dichotomy, while there's not much new we learn, we learn so much that's new.
The book heavily follows Houdini's involvement with the spiritualist movement, in particular, a Boston spiritualist named Margery.
I can not recommend this book highly enough.
Harry Houdini : The Man, The Myth, The Spy, The Secret Service Agent.......2007-05-18
Harry Houdini : The Man, The Myth, The Spy, The Secret Service Agent
A lot of people love reading about Harry Houdini the magician, the Handcuff King the escape artist but did you know that he was a spy & a Secret Service agent? I can prove it with one book & a few well versed words here. The book I am talking about is one I am just over half way through & it is entitled "The Secret Life of Houdini : The Making of a Superhero."
This book is awesome & I encourage everyone to read it and enjoy the story of Harry Houdini from beginning to end. It tells about the man, the myth, the spy, the Secret Service agent who was a performer who made the world love him & his shows & continually conquered his every demon, including his own self loathing while continually re-creating himself for the world at large.
Yes this book still fits into this world of the wide web that is the internet. The book is all about how all of Harry Houdini's having been a major instigator in World War I in the propaganda & success of America while Harry Houdini, or some may know him better as Ehrich Weiss, a Jewish man who changed his identity to fit better into the world and to better sell himself to the world as an entertainer at large for War World I in the rise of Germany the first time it came to power.
The fact that the book is from archival data and letters both from & to Harry Houdini is what makes this book so intriguing. Please feel free to enjoy the book & I would love to hear anyone else's opinion & thoughts on this subject. A lot of people do not know that the Secret Service was a spy agency at one time and was connected to the spy world like the C.I.A., N.S.A., D.I.A. & the rest of the alphabet Intelligent Agencies.
Harry Houdini taught our American Dough Boys how to escape from handcuffs, being tied in ropes, & how to escape from torpedoed ships by being on stage in an ampitheater & having actually being a teacher of the American military.
spooky.......2007-04-26
Good book but Harry was given something to drink by a woman that slowly killed him.
Comprehensive and Fascinating.......2007-04-18
What a fascinating and readable story. The addition of conjectured dialogue, authentic letters, and numerous thoughtfully placed photographs gives this mammoth biography the feel of both a novel and an A&E special.
It is near impossible to condense this book into a review, but I will say what beguiled me the most was the concept of how the extent and grandeur of Houdini's worldwide fame--in his own lifetime--was conceived and flawlessly executed by his own will and brilliance in an age of no television and no Internet.
The thoroughness of the book is what makes it impressive. It's also what makes it hard to finish. For the length of the book, I can't see how the authors could have made it more exciting, but I can't help thinking that some of the details could have been cut out for the sanity of the reader. I would liken it to the most interesting textbook I've ever read.
Book Description
Leadership expert John Maxwell believes attitude is one thing that can make all the difference in your life---and now shows you how you can make it your best asset.
Customer Reviews:
Maxwell Book.......2007-10-20
This book was advertised as used, but it sure looked new to me! I was very pleased with my purchase - the quality of the book and the price!
The Difference Maker:Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset.......2007-10-06
Excellent easy to follow. Well worth the purchase. I use it as a guide and reinforcement to be more positive.
Making The Difference.......2007-10-04
This book taught me that it is the 1% that seperates us from the less fortunate. Not only just saying change your attitude but an easy step by step process for having a correct perspective on doing so. I have read it 6 times and discover something new and wonderful each time.
-Timothy KendrickPTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door
Challenge to Grow.......2007-09-14
Everyone should read this book. However, if you or someone you know is experiencing a sustained period of adversity, reading it is even more critical. It not only inspires but also equips readers with the techniques to get through tough times.
My manager gave this book to everyone in his district because market and external forces were creating a difficult working environment. This book helped many of us get through that time and still reach our goals.
Great Book!.......2007-09-11
Any time I read a book and see myself in it I enjoy it more. When I read this one I understood myself better, those around me better and most of all, why I just can't give up. As an entrepreneur I know that many try and fail and never try again. Others, with the right attitude, try and try and try and may fail but refuse to give up. This is a great book for all members of the family.
I recently attended a John Maxwell conference and heard him discuss some of the points in his new book, "Talent is Never Enough". That is the next book I will read! The folks at Amazon are wise to offer these two books together.
Maxwell is the consumate leadership guru.
Amazon.com
QBQ! by John G. Miller is a motivational primer aimed at purging the "blame, complaining, and procrastination" from the workplace. Miller believes that one of the hallmarks of today's business culture is a lack of personal accountability; he prescribes the cure in this series of short stories and personal observations drawn from his years of experience running his organizational development firm. His main point is that positive change begins with individuals changing themselves: "Instead of asking, 'When will others walk their talk?' let's walk our talk first." The result is choppy (39 chapters in 115 pages), and at times Miller's advice boils down to truism and cliché. Nevertheless, managers whose workplaces demand remedial, straightforward advice should find a useful tool here. --Harry C. Edwards
Book Description
Who Moved My Cheese? showed readers how to adapt to change.
Fish! helped raise flagging morale.
Execution guided readers to overcome the inability to get things done.
QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, already a phenomenon in its self-published edition, addresses the most important issue in business and society today: personal accountability.
The lack of personal accountability has resulted in an epidemic of blame, complaining, and procrastination. No organization-or individual-can achieve goals, compete in the marketplace, fulfill a vision, or develop people and teams without personal accountability.
The solution involves an entirely new approach. We can no longer ask, "Who dropped the ball?" "Why can't they do their work properly?" or "Why do we have to go through all these changes?" Instead, every individual has to ask the question behind the question: "How can I improve this situation?" "What can I contribute?" or "How can I make a difference?"
Succinct, insightful, and practical, QBQ! The Question Behind the Question provides a method for putting personal accountability into daily action, which can bring astonishing results: problems get solved, barriers come down, service improves, teamwork grows, and people adapt to change.
Download Description
"Who Moved My Cheese? showed readers how to adapt to change. Fish! helped raise flagging morale. Execution guided readers to overcome the inability to get things done. QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, already a phenomenon in its self-published edition, addresses the most important issue in business and society today: personal accountability. The lack of personal accountability has resulted in an epidemic of blame, complaining, and procrastination. No organization-or individual-can achieve goals, compete in the marketplace, fulfill a vision, or develop people and teams without personal accountability. The solution involves an entirely new approach. We can no longer ask, ""Who dropped the ball?"" ""Why can't they do their work properly?"" or ""Why do we have to go through all these changes?"" Instead, every individual has to ask the question behind the question: ""How can I improve this situation?"" ""What can I contribute?"" or ""How can I make a difference?"" Succinct, insightful, and practical, QBQ! The Question Behind the Question provides a method for putting personal accountability into daily action, which can bring astonishing results: problems get solved, barriers come down, service improves, teamwork grows, and people adapt to change. "
Customer Reviews:
It should be required reading.......2007-09-05
The book is thin and it is a simple read. My 6th grade daughter would understand every concept in the book. While this would all generally make for a low rating, I instead give it the highest rating. Why? Because although it does not present many original ideas, the vast population of American at least, do not follow the QBQ. If it takes a book that can be read in an hour and that can be understood by someone who reads at a 6th grade level for people to start taking responsibility for their actions and thier lives, then I am all for it.
This is not to say that the only people who will benefit from this book are the young and irresponsible. Many of the points, while not rocket science, were new ways to look at old ideas and as the book says "repetition is the motor of learning."
Personal accountability is fine in theory, but more should be said about what to do when others do not.......2007-08-22
Personal accountability is fine in theory, but enormously difficult in practice. This is because it will only work if the overwhelming majority of people practice it. It is a fact of life that it takes only a few people engaging in selfish behavior to slow down the progress of everyone else. If you hold yourself accountable for what is done and those you work with do not, then the group, including those that are unproductive, will collectively get the credit.
I am not saying that you should avoid holding yourself accountable for what you do; just that one must be reasonable about doing it. You must keep your expectations to a manageable level and understand that there might be times when only you will know what you have accomplished.
Personal accountability of course starts with the actions of each and every individual and from that perspective this is a good book. Miller discusses what questions or statements should be said rather than what is actually being said. By using the singular pronoun I in "What can I do better?" rather than "What do I get out of it?" each person can take an enormous step towards success and personal achievement. However, as has already been stated, the actions of others may render your achievements down to a much lesser height than they could have been. Miller largely ignores this segment of reality, which lowers the value as you ramble down your lane of the rat race.
Outstanding!.......2007-08-14
In a word, OUTSTANDING! This book is an inspiration and a guide for me every day. I share it with my students in EVERY class. It is a quick read and full of simple insight.
Buy this book!
Motivational.......2007-07-27
I think every business owner should require their staff to read this book. "what happened to personal accountability", this is the main theme of this book. Amen!!!!! Our generations view things so differently, however I think we can all agree on the information presented in this book. This is another required read for all of my new staff.
Nice quick and concise read for personal accountability.......2007-07-10
I had the pleasure of hearing Mr Miller speak to my organization and felt his message in personal accountability spoke volumes about how to make small changes create a large impact.
Mr Miller speaks eloquently about his topic and is obviously passionate about the role QBQ takes for everyone, be they a leader, parent or any human being. The book is an easy read and the concept is not a stretch to understand, follows similarly to "Who Moved My Cheese" or the One Minute Manager series. This is the type of concept that asks you to think about what is the right thing to do, and more importantly, complete it. The procrastination concept is powerful and impactful, again, very simple, however a concept all need to follow and practice...practice being the root of all habits.
Mr. Miller has one example of a cashier at Home Depot that lowered the rating from 5 to 4 stars; this example is too far fetched and the litigious results that potentially could arise from other customers feeling slighted is too over the top. I understand what Mr. Miller is presenting, and why he purposely ignores the repercussions of such an act, this example only degrades the message he is presenting.
I look very forward to reading "Flipping the Switch" and putting these concepts into action, along with re-reading this series annually to ensure I continue to practice personal accountability.
Book Description
MAKING SMART CHOICES IN CHALLENGING TIMES
The challenges teens face today are tougher than at any time in history: academic stress, parent communication, media bombardment, dating drama, abuse, bullying, addictions, depression, and peer pressure, just to name a few. And, like it or not, the choices teens make while navigating these challenges can make or break their futures.
In The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make, Sean Covey, author of the international bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, gives teens the strong advice they need to make informed and wise decisions.Using real stories from teens around the world, Sean shows teens how to succeed in school, make good friends, get along with parents, wisely handle dating and sex issues, avoid or overcome addictions, build self-esteem, and much more. Jam-packed with original cartoons, inspiring quotes, and fun quizzes, this innovative book will help teens not only survive but thrive during their teen years and beyond.
Building upon the legacy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, this is an indispensable resource for teens everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens.......2007-10-05
Excellent tool for parents with pre-teens and teens to help get them thinking about decisions that will effect the rest of their lives. Written in a way that will appeal to teenagers.
A definite must for teenagers.......2007-09-12
I bought this for my 13 year old son, and we both listened to it together. It talked about dating, procrastination, choices, and relationships with parents. I enjoyed it and my son grasped the major concepts, but I think he is not at the dating or choices level, we will listen to it again right before he starts high school and we will continue to listen to it periodically throughout his high school life.
Bought for a gift.......2007-09-11
I did not read this book, it was purchased as a gift, so I cannot do a review.
Another Great Inspirational Book!.......2007-08-28
Sean has done it again!
Very entertaining and informative. A book every young person should read to help them shape their future.
Very Interesting.......2007-05-24
As a High School Student on my way out into the real world, I would have found this as an invaluable gem when I was a younger student. The advice and real world situations translate very well with a youthful reader, and provide a good example of what to do in the stressful situations that they will go through.
Book Description
Whether it is chosen or thrust upon you, change brings both opportunities and turmoil. Since first published 25 years ago, Transitions has helped hundreds of thousands of readers cope with these issues by providing an elegantly simple yet profoundly insightful roadmap of the transition process. With the understanding born of both personal and professional experience, William Bridges takes readers step by step through the three stages of any transition: The Ending, The Neutral Zone, and, in time, The New Beginning. Bridges explains how each stage can be understood and embraced, leading to meaningful and productive movement into a hopeful future. With a new introduction highlighting how the advice in the book continues to apply and is perhaps even more relevant today, and a new chapter devoted to change in the workplace, Transitions will remain the essential guide for coping with the one constant in life: change.
Customer Reviews:
Transitions.......2007-10-12
This is an excellent book for anyone going through a significant change in their life. It accurately describes the feelings and confusion you may be having and talks about how to proceed to a successful completion of the change process. Very encouraging and optomistic.
Bridging a unfathomable Gap in our life from work to retirement.......2007-07-17
It is now almost fifteen years since I entered into the challenging world of retirement. In no time at all, I found myself emulating the comment of another retiree to the effect that he was busier in retirement than he ever had been! At one of my retirement dinner ceremonies, a young lady came up to me and said, "Thank you for all that you have done and I think that you will find this book quite interesting!" I read the book in the next few days and its wisdom and humor have been with me ever since. It has so much to give to us beyond retirement!
Since that time I would say that I have easily given away to my "retiring friends" at least forty copies of this book. Each time I have echoed the words of the original giver with the additional request to let me know what their reactions were. The unanimous sentiment was that the book provided so many helpful insights and now they are giving it away as well.
I would only emphasize one point that is made in the book, we need to plan ahead for this event of retirement. It is not something we just step into having closed the door to our office.
Rick Wheeler
Best Help for Job Changes.......2007-07-03
Bill Bridges does a great job of helping folks though the major transitions in life - job changes, marriage/divorce/death, having a child. I've used this book as a foundation for helping people who are out of work deal with the uncertainty and feelings of loss so they are in a better position to find and get that new job. This is a gift book for all your friends who are facing a transition.
SPEEDY SERVICE.......2007-03-19
I RECEIVED THE BOOK SO FAST YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS HAND DELIVERED FROM AROUND THE CORNER
Very insightful........2007-02-13
On behalf of the millions of us facing major life changes such as retirement or the loss of a parent or spouse, I found this book to be timely and very helpful in explaining the 'transition' to a different life paradigm. And what a relief to know that the 'transition' can happen before the change. I am recommending it to my fellow "boomer" friends!
Book Description
Most people would be left destitute if they planned their futures as carelessly as theyve prepared for eternity. Drawing on the principles in 2 Corinthians 5:911, John Bevere reminds us that all believers will stand before God and receive what they have earned in life. In building their lives to be ready for that day, and maintaining an eternal frame of reference, readers will develop significant lives. In keeping sight of the goal, readers will learn to labor for rewards that endurefor timeless eternity.
Customer Reviews:
Driven by Eternity.......2007-10-11
This is a eye opener book on how we will be judged for what we are called to do.
Driven by Eternity.......2007-10-05
This book is awesome!! It is a MUST read for anyone wishing to get closer to God. The video study series is absolutely the ultimate. I would recommend this series to anyone.
Driven By Eternity.......2007-08-05
This is an eye opening book. It is not only well written, but it hits home on a topic that many people today need to reevaluate.
I loved it and recommend it highly.
A must for anyone desiring to mature as a Christian.......2007-07-23
Before I read the book I heard Brother Bevere preaching. I then bought a set that included this book, the CD's for "Affabel" as well as video presentation and one of his novels. I was impacted by his message from the beggining.
The whole subject of this book is that our present life is nothing when compared with eternity. Based on this premised, we must do our best on this life to first, to be save, and second, to ensure that we secure the rewards that God has for us in his Kingdom.
These rewards are not just "spiritual" but real they are promised in the Scripture. Bevere starts his book by presenting the allegory of the Kingdom of Affabel, which he uses as an allegory of this life and the coming Kingdom of Christ. The characters of the story represent various forms on which people approach the Christian faith, both voirtous and others fallacious as they do not adhere to the Scripture. At the en of the allegory the chareacters face King Jalyl, and receive what they deserve for how they lived their lifes.
Bevere goes on and makes a case for how most of Christians -and obviously those who are not- waste most of their lives building and working on things that are not of etenrnal significance. By using the Affabel allegory and using the holy Bible to support his teachings, Brother Bevere demonstrates what the Bible says about eternity, how people are actually living it, and how really we should see it. He also tell us what God expect from us and the benefits of us following His Will and Plan.
I found this book life changing. I recommend this book to anybody and everybody, whether you are a believer or not. If you are a believer, you will shape up and start to put something in your "account" with God, otherwise all your hard work will be gone when tested by God's purifying fire. If you are not a Christian, well, you need to "open" an account, becasue otherwise everything there will be nothing left for you, other than eternal punishment.
Very impressive - with one MAJOR flaw.......2007-07-21
There is a lot to recommend in this book. Bevere makes a compelling case for filtering all of one's thoughts, words and actions through the light of eternity. Good stuff! And he writes better than most. Why just three stars, then? For a major doctrinal flaw. Bevere devotes one entire chapter to his conviction that it is possible to lose one's salvation by one's actions. His "proof" of this contention is utterly unconvincing, as any teaching outside Christian orothodoxy would be. I was flabbergasted - if he's wrong about this, what else is in error? It's difficult to recommend for this reason alone. The book with the offending chapter excised would be worth five stars, easily.
Book Description
Vision and Purpose: Dream It, Live It, Attain It
Do you wake up each day motivated by knowing exactly why you were created? Guided by intention in every step? Enter: Chazown. Hebrew for âvision,â God wants to give His for you, and this book will reveal it! Living God’s dream will rock your world and align every area of your life, from your relationships to your finances and health. Chazown is packed with storytelling graphics, in-your-face honesty, bite-sized chapterettes, step-by-step guidance, surprising self-assessments, and scarcely containable energy in a fast-paced style that will drive you forward with purpose! Craig Groeschel cowrote this book, but he’s waiting for his partnerâyou. Because only you can discover how the book ends and the rest of your life beginsâ¦
Chazown
(pronounced khaw-ZONE)
from the Hebrew, meaning a dream, revelation, or vision.
You were born with your own Chazown. Do you know what it is?
INSIDE LEFT FLAP OF BOOK
Chazown
A Different Way to See Your Life
You’re invited on a most unusual odysseyâto find, name, and live out your Chazown. It’s a journey you’ll never forget because it’s impossible to return unchanged.
Practical, surprising, visually fresh, and biblically sound, the Chazown experience helps you clearly understand what you’ve always suspected: You’re not an accident. You have been created and put on earth for a unique and important purposeâ¦a Chazown . And God intends for you to live it with passion and fulfillment for His glory.
But where to start your search? As Craig Groeschel will show, your own Chazown is hiding just under the surface of your life in three often overlooked areas: your core values, your spiritual gifts, and your past experiences. Once you discover your personal Chazown , you’ll turn it into a highly motivating credoâcomplete with short-term goals, action steps, and an accountability network to make your big dream a reality.
Pursue your Chazown and simultaneously improve five critical aspects of your life. These âsmall âc’ chazowns â are your relationship with God, your relationships with people, your finances, your health and fitness, and your work life.
Are you living someone else’s dream for your life, or no dream at all?
Get ready for Chazown.
Story Behind the Book
Craig Groeschel started LifeChurch.tv, now attended by more than twelve thousand people each weekend on five different campuses, in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, area in 1996. From that point on, he has been empowered by the knowledge that he is following God’s chazown (vision) for his life. Craig’s cutting-edge teaching styleâincluding honest, uncomfortable teaching of God’s truth and ubiquitous use of in-your-face video and other imageryâhas challenged and changed thousands of lives. His messages are simulcast live to each of the church’s campuses, and his ministry continues to explode. This book stems from a two-message series that he gave; its premise is the bedrock for all teaching and ministry at LifeChurch.tv.
Customer Reviews:
Are you on target for God's purpose?.......2007-10-06
This book presents a great way to evaluate if you are seeking out God's purpose in your life and if you understand what his purpose is for your life. I'm not yet through with the book but so far it's great. I noticed it even comes with a cool DVD in the back.
I guess if you have no direction.......2007-08-22
in your life then this book is a God send. I found it interesting and was able to glean a few nuggets. I have no real negatives but wish it was a bit deeper and more profound. The Author does a good job at motivating through his stories and life experiences. What it lacks in BIG BANG it makes up for in sincerity.
Excellent outline for growth without relying on the outline itself.......2007-01-22
It is very difficult for an "outline" or "set of disciplines" book to not become a formula for growth work, which almost always results in the reader relying on the formula for growth instead of God and their love of and desire for God.
Groeschel avoids this mistake and has written a wonderfully clear and concise approach to achieving what you really want out of your life with the amazing thought that, wait for it, it might actually entail you taking this stuff seriously and making it a priority. What's amusing is that despite the fact that deep down we all know this, we either forget or disregard it. But Groeschel won't let you any longer.
The writing style is very conversational and light, which is why some individuals can correctly criticize the book for being a bit "surface-level" however this is not a book aimed at getting you to really contemplate and assess your beliefs but is more focused on equipping you to achieve an active growth through doing and planning.
In fact, planning for growth is the key message of this book, as the book's key verse echoes, if not screams, "Where there is no vision, the people perish (are unrestrained in other translations)," - Proverbs 29:18. I actually prefer the unrestrained translation because it hits closer to Groeschel's message, "Growth rarely, if never, happens by accident."
Great, Practical Advice!.......2007-01-02
I love the applications this book has. The quizzes and charts were really helpful in learning more about myself and where I best fit in. Definitely check this out.
Out of college whats next?.......2006-12-04
As a 27 year old collge graduate in the 3rd year of my profession, my thoughts began to wonder to what is next? Is my job all there is? Is there more to life? Is there more to the life I have been given? Chazown in simple yet profound language has given me a reason to look forward to each new day, and to not get bogged down in the monotony of everyday life, but to see life with a purpose, my OWN individual purpose that only I was created and put on this earth for.
Pastor Craig has delivered an awesome book on vision and purpose in life, but also has the tools nevessary to help us whether it is the online journal, or DVDs' that help us in finances, physical fitness, or relationships, this is one book that covers it all. I had read the Purpose Driven Life and thought it was alot of fluff, but Chazown not only had spiritual insight into the purpose God has for me, but also has the tools ( Life Development Plan found at [...] ) to help me determine and fullfill God's chazown for MY life.
Books:
- Strategy: A View From The Top (An Executive Perspective) (2nd Edition)
- Successful Manager's Handbook: Develop Yourself, Coach Others
- Teaching Children to Read: Putting the Pieces Together (4th Edition)
- Teaching What Matters Most: Standards and Strategies for Raising Student Achievement
- The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict
- The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
- The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!
- The Compensation Handbook
- The Complete ACOA Sourcebook: Adult Children of Alcoholics at Home, at Work and in Love
- The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Firms, Contracts, and Financial Structure
- The Oxford Companion to United States History
- Macroeconomics with MyEconLab Student Access Kit
- More Killing Defense at Bridge
- Simpleology: The Simple Science of Getting What You Want
- The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy: Over 150 Topics from the World's Foremost Prophecy Exper
- The Eagle Squadrons: Yanks in the RAF, 1940-1942
- Divisional Performance. Measurement and Control
- Location, Transport and Land-Use: Modelling Spatial-Temporal Information
- Mushrooms of the Great lakes region;: The fleshy, leathery, and woody fungi of Illinois, Indiana, Oh
Discipleship
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (J-B Leadership Network Series)
Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens
Seven Practices of Effective Ministry
The Big Idea: Focus the Message-multiply the Impact (The Leadership Network Innovation Series)
