Book Description
Who is Heraclitus, and what is he whacking, you ask? Heraclitus was an ancient Greek philosopher, widely considered the world's first creativity teacher. The deck has 32 cards, each containing a "whack," or eye-opening exercise based on the epigrams of Heraclitus. They will spur creative thinking and allow you to look at a problem from a fresh perspective. Created by Roger von Oech, author of the best-selling book, A Whack on the Side of the Head and the Creative Whack Pack.
Customer Reviews:
If not a whack, at least a little thump.......2007-10-22
I found this book to be very entertaining and it certainly gave me some fresh and creative ways to look at situations/problems. I'm not sure yet how I will be able to put any of them to use, but that may be because I'm a bit overwhelmed after just reading the book. The exercises within the chapters did not always offer me the insight on how to use the topics they were supposed to be practicing. I am hopeful that the next time I run into a brick wall, some of the suggestions occur to me and that I can put them into practice.
I can see how this would make a very effective seminar or training, with groups working on the exercises, bouncing ideas off one another and spurring one another on to more creative thinking.
Ideas that linger.......2007-10-16
I bought this book several years ago and still find it helpful. It is worth rereading every year or so. The suggestions von Oech presents never go out of date. Getting stuck in a rut is a surefire way to squelch creative thinking. As a help to avoid getting in a rut, he suggests that men look for a new shaving pattern every day - look for a creative way to whack off those whiskers. Every morning when I see my face in the mirror, I get a daily challenge to look for a new way of doing routing tasks. That mental exercise helps keep my mind sharp.
A New Perspective.......2007-09-23
A delightful book that is easy to read. If you are stuck in your current way of thinking or perhaps don't even know you are stuck this book provides practical tools for opening up your mind to new ways of thinking. This book is loaded with 10 key concepts about how we get stuck in our current ways of thinking. With each concept are 2-3 practical solutions to getting unstuck. This allows the reader to explore the infinite potential that exists in the world of imagination, innovation, and creativity. What a treat.
A Nice Complement to Other Creativity Books.......2007-08-10
A Whack on the Side of the Head does just that. If you need something of a jolt to get the creative juices flowing again, this is the perfect book to get you going. It's not going to give you detailed explanations of every brainstorming technique that's ever been devised by humans, but it will give you a lot to think about -- and that's half the battle. Kudos to Mr. Oech for putting out a fun, stimulating book.
Inspiring.......2007-08-06
It's an excellent way to improve your creative thinking capability. Packed with exciting concepts. If you are looking for brainstorming techniques to improve your corporate thinking, Eightstorm: 8-Step Brainstorming, will also be useful.
Average customer rating:
- Anecdotal Book on How To Compromise to Avoid the "Hairball"...
- Inspiring, creative, and a thought-provoker. Not to miss.
- A Guide to Chaos, Confinement, and Creativity
- How to become a Corporate Fool !
- Ignore How It Looks
|
Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace
Gordon MacKenzie
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
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Binding: Hardcover
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Book Description
Creativity is crucial to business success. But too often, even the most innovative organization quickly becomes a "giant hairball"--a tangled, impenetrable mass of rules, traditions, and systems, all based on what worked in the past--that exercises an inexorable pull into mediocrity. Gordon McKenzie worked at Hallmark Cards for thirty years, many of which he spent inspiring his colleagues to slip the bonds of Corporate Normalcy and rise to orbit--to a mode of dreaming, daring and doing above and beyond the rubber-stamp confines of the administrative mind-set. In his deeply funny book, exuberantly illustrated in full color, he shares the story of his own professional evolution, together with lessons on awakening and fostering creative genius.
Originally self-published and already a business "cult classic", this personally empowering and entertaining look at the intersection between human creativity and the bottom line is now widely available to bookstores. It will be a must-read for any manager looking for new ways to invigorate employees, and any professional who wants to achieve his or her best, most self-expressive, most creative and fulfilling work.
Customer Reviews:
Anecdotal Book on How To Compromise to Avoid the "Hairball"..........2007-10-06
Unfortunately for me, I have bad habits- like eating good food and sleeping in the climate controlled indoors. That means getting paid, and in corporate America you don't get paid orbiting the hairball. You get paid only if you're in the thick of it. This book is essentially a book on compromising to avoid, rather than confronting the obvious problems of working in the typical corporate environment.
I rated it three stars because some of the information is actually useful, it's well written (though the artwork and type are annoying) for the fence-sitters it's aimed at.
I enjoyed reading it in the context of vague memories of corporate life I have dating back to 2002 and prior. When I finally lost my last job-- well, I didn't actually lose it, I know where it is (Bhopal I think)-- I decided I'd stay way far away from the hairball. Orbit is too close.
Read it for what it's worth- but if you're reading it because you're really discouraged with life in the cubicle, and being on the electronic leash with your laptop and crackberry wherever you go-- I suggest OUT, not up.
Inspiring, creative, and a thought-provoker. Not to miss........2007-09-22
"Orbiting the Giant Hairball" by Gordon MacKenzie is a not-to-miss book for anyone who is looking to tap into their creative mind.
The book is not for the dull-minded, however. MacKenzie recalls several situations in his career at Hallmark cards, and offers advice in the form of examples.
The last chapter of the book was what made this book completely worth while. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I guarantee you will not regret it.
A Guide to Chaos, Confinement, and Creativity.......2007-08-21
What Orbiting the Giant Hairball (OTGH) is not is another book on corporate management, although heads of creative departments would do well to understand the principles Gordon MacKenzie suggests. OTGH is a guide to chaos, confinement, and creativity. As an artist, I've worked most of my career in the corporate world (the Hairball). The paradox is that creation takes an entirely different set of rules (mainly the defiance of them), which puts creativity at odds with the organizational compulsion of the Hairball. On the one hand, a company can't exist without structure; on the other, artistic expression is antithetical to defined limits. How do you find congruence as a Creative hemmed in a left-brained organization? MacKenzie suggests the middle ground is an orbital path that is free to explore the infinite, but not independent of the organization.
MacKenzie's book is an effortless read, laid out to take advantage of white space. Doodles mark the margins and gaps, with chapter heads and illustrations taking up 4-page spreads. Some chapters break out in freeform cartoons on lined notepaper, with Chapter 19 devoted to the statement, "Orville Wright did not have a pilot's license." Often digressing, you feel there's always a point to the random character of the work. The book presents itself as an artistic exploration, even if the drawings are primitive in the style of a child's hand. What MacKenzie has to say is thought-provoking. Don't get tangled in the hairball, becoming another crony of the institution. Mentoring is not the same as managing. Dynamic forces exist in the chaos of uncertainty. Orbit provides a place for creative expression that isn't stifling. Find your unique voice and express your one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
How to become a Corporate Fool !.......2007-05-26
What a delightful book! You have to read this - if you interested in fostering creativity within a corporation.
The author is Gordon McKenzie, who worked for Hallmark Cards (the main greeting card company here in the US) for 30 years. His last title at the company was ¡¥Creative Paradox¡¦.
The main point in his book is that corporations come into existence through the creativity of their founders, but subsequently start to become stratified and ossified because of the need to do things ¡¥that we know work¡¦, thereby discouraging creativity.
The bias against creativity does not just exist in large corporations. I particularly liked his story about asking school children in different grades how many thought they were artists. Invariably, the older the kids, they less hands would go up. They have been taught that they were not creative, or that being creative is not ¡¥normal¡¦.
The giant hairball is his analogy for the corporate body with all the rules and regulations, and his prescription is to know how to keep within the orbit of the corporation without being absorbed and suffocated into the main mass. Another useful analogy is how when water-skiing, you do not need to follow directly in the wake of the boat, but can at times move in an arc around the back of the boat, or even sometimes get ahead of the boat.
This is a small book full of gems! I highly recommend it.
Here is a quote I really like:
¡§If we do not let go, we make prisoners of ourselves¡¨
The book¡¦s subtitle is: ¡§A Corporate Fool¡¦s Guide to Surviving with Grace.¡¨ So, go ahead and read it. You too can become a Corporate Fool º.
Ignore How It Looks.......2007-03-15
This book sat on my shelf for five years before I ran out of things to read and picked it up. Had I know then what I know now, I would have dropped everything and read it then and there. Mr. Mackenzie encourages individual thinking and creative looks at how things can be in a corporate culture, where dollars and cents are more important than pressing forward and being truly innovative. There is not a business where this sort of creativity cannot be applied.
Book Description
What exactly is creativity? Why do some people seem to have so much of it? Can their secrets be learned? In this trail-blazing book, internationally renowned business creativity expert Michael Michalko answers these questions and more, bringing life-changing techniques into everyone's reach. Michalko has researched and analyzed over 100 of history's greatest thinkers-from Leonardo da Vinci to Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison to Walt Disney-to show readers how creative people think and how to put their secrets to use. It's no wonder that Entrepreneur magazine lauded CRACKING CREATIVITY as "Required reading for anyone in business." Packed with practical exercises and strategies for stimulating creativity, this original book will literally revolutionize the way you think and open up a world of innovative solutions to challenges that you face every day.
Customer Reviews:
Great read.......2007-10-17
This is the best book on or about creative thinking I have ever read. I've recommended it to everyone I know who is interested in creating ideas and new ways to look at the world. Thanks.
Practical Techniques to Boost Creativity.......2007-06-27
Author Michael Michalko delivers his best performance to date in this book. The book is filled with information on, and techniques for using, our creative processes. Many of the techniques are easy to learn, requiring only a little bit of practice to get used to them. Most of the book centers around: helping an individual generate many possible ideas about something, which will be critically evaluated at a later time; visualizing the problem and potential solutions; seeing from another's perspective, even the problem's in one case (quite effective sometimes); collaboration and creativity. This book already helped me deliver a 5 star essay on a very controversial subject. I followed its advice, producing as many ideas as possible in a short time, without rejecting any at first. Also, visualizing the data, as recommended, formed the basis for my later outline, which was complete enough that a rough draft was no work at all. So, for me, buying this book paid off already. I think anyone buying this will read it for a few minutes and then recognize they have a winner in their hands.
I told you so.......2006-10-28
This book woke me up from my indifference toward creative thinking. My colleague at work recommended the book, so I bought it and read it expecting nothing much. I assumed creativity was something you were or were not. I can't believe how creative I've become since reading this book. This book has literally changed the way I the way I think and the way I look at the world. When I told my colleague about how I've changed, all he said was "I told you so."
Superb!!!.......2006-10-20
This book has changed the way I look at the world and the way I think. I've gifted copies to all my friends and relatives.
Together with 'Thinkertoys'...dynamic duo...consider them among the best in the genre!.......2006-07-17
The first time I encountered 'Thinkertoys' it was actually the first edition released during the early 90's, when it was also about the time I began to explore the various options with regard to my mid-life transition. In fact, I had initially spotted an interesting review in the Entrepreneur magazine.
I managed to trace the publisher & had immediately ordered the first 100 copies for my debut bookstore. It became the best seller in my store for many years. Then came 'Cracking Creativity' a few years later as well as the accompanying brainstorming card deck, Thinkpak, to 'Thinkertoys'.
What impressed me most is not so much the creativity tools outlined in both books. In fact, the most productive learning experiences I got out of both books are a few very important things, which I would like to share with readers.
Let's take a look at Thinkertoys. In the Introduction, the author started off with a visual puzzle: 'Can you identify the figure below?'
Only by shifting your focus, you can then see the hidden word within the figure.
In the author's own words, "...by changing your perspectives, you can expand your possibilities..."
Let's move to 'Cracking Creativity'. In the Introduction, the author introduced a simple arithmetic equation: What is half of thirteen?
The subsequent passages as outlined in Part I: Seeing What No One else in Seeing, & Strategy I: Knowing How to See, by the author revealed the secrets to getting many possible answers (or perspectives) to the above equation.
No creativity tool outlined in the above two books (or elsewhere in the world, for that matter) can help you to become more creative until you fully understand - & appreciate - what the author is trying to drive home in his two books.
In a nut shell, it basically boils down to one important thing: Use - & enhance - your power of vision! or power of observation!
The author may not be the first person to postulate this crucial aspect of creativity.
I would consider Leonardo da Vinci to be the first person to have understood & practised it religiously. He said, among a few other things, LEARN TO SEE THE WORLD. In fact, he put a lot of emphasis on using your senses, especially your sense of sight.
Edward de Bono had also broached this valuable concept in his groundbreaking series of lateral thinking books, starting with 'Mechanism of Mind' in the 70's.
I have always believed that you can't do things differently until you can see things differently.
Learning to see the world anew & from different perspectives is imperative if one wants to be more creative.
According to de Bono, creativity starts at the perceptual stage of thinking. He terms it, First Order Thinking. He added very beautifully: "This is where our perceptions & concepts are formed, & this is where they have to be changed. Most of the mistakes in thinking are inadequacies of perception rather than mistakes of logic."
The creativity tools, whether they are from the author's books or elsewhere, will then automaticlaly fall into place & make more sense when you have first exercised your power of vision or observation.
Using any tool is a piece of cake, but changing one's perception - & maintaining fluidity of perception as well as having multiple perceptions - takes concerted efforts.
It is also important to take note that when things (or tactics) don't seem to work out as planned, always remember to check out your observations of the world first. Simply ask:
- what do you CHOOSE to see?
- where do you DIRECT your attention?
The second most productive learning experience I got from the above two books is realising that all thoughts are simply feats of association &/or juxtapositions - & the crux of creativity (in fact, also learning) are making associations &/or juxtapositions. [Tom Peters, in his wonderful book, Liberation Management, drives home with this insightful nugget: "The essence of creation - in all endeavours - is chance connections between ideas and facts that are previously segregated. Entrepreneurship is the direct by-product of chance, of convoluted connections among ideas, needs and people." According to Leonardo da vinci, everything is connected to everything else. My question: CAN YOU SEE IT?] The creativity tools outlined by the author are specifically designed for this purpose.
The third most productive learning experience for me is understanding the differential between productive & reproductive thinking. To paraphrase the author: "...in productive thinking, one generates as many alternative approaches as one can, considering the least as well as the most likely approaches...in contrast, reproductive thinking fosters rigidity of thought..." More relevant aspects about the significance of & more specific strategies to develop productive thinking are excellently covered by the author in 'Cracking Creativity'.
To end this review, & in the light of what I have written, I would consider the author's two books as the dynamic duo...to be among the best in the genre!
Average customer rating:
- 1 Map Vs. 50 Pages... I'll take 1 Visually Appealing Map
- Should be common knowledge for learners and workers.
- Help Put Some Colour Back into the Workplace - and Your Life
- Very little substance
- A Very Helpful Book
|
Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More, and Achieve Success in Business
Jamie Nast
Manufacturer: Wiley
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Binding: Hardcover
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Praise for Idea Mapping
"Nast's work in Idea Mapping enables those with creative minds to clearly lay out their thinking process and those who are more process-minded to become creative. If your organization is looking for a pragmatic, step-by-step guide to idea mapping, this is it."
--Chris Brown, Executive Vice President, DTE Energy Resources
"I have used idea maps for thirty years and have taught MBA students, employees, and my children how to harness their power. I strongly recommend this book and believe you will feel it to be one of the best investments you have ever made in your own growth."
--Stephen C. Lundin, coauthor, FISH!
"This is a book that everyone should read. It's an interactive, thought-provoking book about the brain and learning that will expand your mind. Nast, an accomplished and well-respected instructor, has guided me into a new realm of learning experiences and possibilities. I'm sure you will feel the same upon reading her insightful work."
--Simon Tai, CEO, Buzan Centre Taiwan and S&J Media Intergration Co. Ltd., Host of News Discovery on NEWS 98 Taiwan
"Nast shows you a revolutionary method to capture your thinking processes. Don't underestimate the simplicity of idea mapping because therein lies its genius."
--Scott Hagwood, four-time USA Memory Champion, author, Memory Power
"The ability to visually capture and organize thoughts and ideas has enabled millions of people around the world to do their work with greater creativity and productivity, run their businesses more strategically, and manage complex projects more efficiently--even map out a sales process or new product roll-out. Nast's very practical, readable book will get you quickly up to speed on one of the simplest but most powerful ways to organize your ideas, your work, and yourself."
--Mike Jetter, cofounder and CTO, Mindjet Corporation, coauthor, The Cancer Code
"The principles Nast writes about in Idea Mapping have become a staple for me over the past fourteen years. I was turned onto the concept of idea mapping in 1992 and have been a student and practitioner ever since. This has absolutely transformed the way I learn, design learning, and prepare for public speaking. I have never been more confident in my recall, knowing the content is nicely tucked away in my brain as it was designed to be. Get ready for a life-changing experience for yourself and those you influence."
--Will Flora, Senior Manager, Chick-Fil-A University, Atlanta, GA
Customer Reviews:
1 Map Vs. 50 Pages... I'll take 1 Visually Appealing Map.......2007-08-22
I've been impressed by Jamie Nast and her philosophy of Idea Mapping. I especially like the concept that you can put a complex idea on one page, and Jamie is running with it. I don't know about you, but I'd rather see a business plan on one gorgeous map than 50 droning pages. I'm also happy that Jamie considers software a legitimate venue for mapping (I especially like MindManager, which Jamie endorses at her website). A resource idea mappers at all levels need to checkout.
Should be common knowledge for learners and workers........2007-07-30
Giving the book five stars because I didn't already know everything the book tells you, but feel like I should have. A pretty light read and, I would say, on a 6th grade reading level, but all of the concepts in the book should have been explained to me by teachers in my secondary education.
I have to assimilate volumes of information, and mapping the info out in the manner taught by this book is the perfect way to do it. This use of the technique is only one of the applications described in the book.
Help Put Some Colour Back into the Workplace - and Your Life.......2007-06-08
This is a most accessible book. Almost by stealth, it introduces people to a very powerful personal and business tool. Idea mapping can help put the fun and creativity back into work - and open your mind to a technique to access ideas you didn't know you had.
The book takes an evolutionary approach to teaching mapping. Concepts and rules are introduced, examples given and lessons reinforced - then on to the next concept. Happily it's in plain English, with no business consultant-speak, and is easy to read and comprehend. Rules are introduced at the beginning to help the novice get started - later on these are overturned as experts are encouraged to be flexible and take account of the situations they are in and the purpose of their maps.
The focus is very much on business applications of the tool. Guidance is given on how to approach creativity, strategy definition, planning, preparation for presentations, planning and drafting articles and papers, organising your schedule and even 1-1 meetings with staff.
One of the most powerful applications of idea mapping is in learning and memorising information, books and manuals - whether simply to help retain more for day-day application or for passing professional exams or achieving certification. Maps provide visual clues to aid memory and readers are encouraged to embelish their maps with colour and images to enhance retention and recall.
What really makes the difference here is the inclusion of many real life examples. These are not dusty academic references but actual maps produced by real people to help them achieve more in real life business situations. More examples can be found on the author's website - extending the value of the book.
One of the recurring themes throughout is to consider the purpose of a map before you start it. Often maps will be fast and furious scribbles by way of an instant brainstorm, such as last minute preparation for an imminent meeting. At other times they will be developed with care, full of colour and images, as an aid to learning and recall.
Jamie Nast also introduces us to situations where maps need to be refined, developed and shared - and for which mapping software is a must. Advice is given on how to choose your software, the benefits and concerns and when and how to use.
Elsewhere in the book Jamie also explains how teams can use mapping collaboratively. A software tool is invaluable for such work. As a professional facilitator, I use software idea mapping with my groups. The map is projected onto a wall and ideas are captured, reviewed, restructured and so on interactively until the group are happy. Because the map is captured electronically it can be distributed immediately after the session as a map or exported into a text file, presentation or project plan.
Jamie also gives us a tool to help with group brainstorming. If you have caught the increasing number of articles on 'why brainstorming does not work', you'll know that getting every person to shout out every idea they have is unrealistic. Idea mapping offers a perfect solution where the brainstorm begins with individuals getting their thoughts down on paper before sharing with the group.
As mentioned earlier, idea mapping puts mind mapping firmly in the realm of business. In addition to being a tool to help organisations and teams, it is also a personal tool which managers use to identify and review their personal goals, manage their schedules and prepare their individual plans and presentations. Many of us are becoming increasingly aware of the inter-relationship between work and the rest of our lives (Doh!). There are examples given in the book of how people have assessed their careers and life goals using these techniques.
This book offers real encouragement to people to try the technique and access the creativity and fun they could experience in even the crustiest of workplaces. It's easy to learn following Jamie's well thought out step-by-step guide. Inspiration is offered by the many real life examples included - all of which can be viewed in colour on Jamie's web site. I have come across people at work who have seen mind mapping as something to be used by creative, clever people. You don't have to be clever to use idea mapping but you might become so if you do.
Very little substance.......2007-04-29
This book is yet another example of 15 pages worth of substance spread over 240 pages of fluff. A person would be much better served downloading the trial version of "Mindmanager" software and just following the included tutorial. It will teach you everything this book has to offer in a fraction of the time.
A Very Helpful Book.......2007-02-15
I love this book. It has helped me with my to do lists, teaching classes, taking notes on lectures and with helping my children to study. In my teaching; it has allowed me to keep my notes on one page and then to see the transitions more clearly. When questions are asked I can quickly find my place and give precise answers without flipping through pages of notes. My oldest daughter was struggling with science, but with idea mapping techniques she is able to use her creativeness to map out her study notes and has had more success with her testing. When taking notes on a lecture, I find that I can remember the speaker's points much better than the traditional outline method because it's mapped out in pictures and words.
I really enjoyed the book because the author has the reader participate in each chapter, so by the end of the book you are able to make good idea maps and rarely have to review the book.
What I have learned is a life enhancing skill that I use at work (fleshing out new projects or by doing my performance reviews)and my personal life (helping my children study, teaching, studying my Bible or by mapping "to do" lists).
The book is great; if you participate you will learn. I use idea mapping every day and I believe I am even more creative because of it.
Although I do not use the software suggested in the book, one day I may give it a try when drawing my own idea maps becomes a little tiring or less useful. But that may be well into the future because for now I'm having the best time drawing them out myself.
Book Description
A self-help classic with more than a million copies in print.
Dr. Murphy combines time-honored spiritual wisdom with cutting-edge scientific research to explain the influence of the subconscious mind. He also presents simple, practical, and proven-effective exercises that can turn the mind into a powerful tool for improving everyday life.
Filled with inspiring real-life success stories, this invaluable user's guide to the mind unlocks the secrets to success in a wide range of endeavors including:
- Increasing health and even curing the body of many common ailments
- Getting that much-wanted promotion, the much-needed raise, and well-deserved recognition
- Building confidence to do anything-no matter the risks
- Developing friendships and enhancing existing relationships with co-workers, family, and friends
- Strengthening marriage or primary love relationship
- Overcoming phobias, compulsions, and bad habits
- Learning the secret of "eternal youth" and much, much more!
Customer Reviews:
An interesting book to some degree........2007-10-18
The subconscious mind does have a lot of untapped potential. This book informs you of some ways you can use the subconscious mind to bring about needed or wanted changes in your life. I enjoyed it somewhat, but found little that I had not already read of heard elsewhere.
This is Your Brain on Science.......2007-09-18
Enjoyed it once I got beyond some of the outdated references. I often wonder, with the incredible mass of information in this field, why people are not more deliberate about feeding their brain and deliberately brain washing themselves. I know I do not do what I can to feed my head. It is easier to sit in front of the tube or sit around soaking up the gas from underachieving buddies.
Thousands Have This Priceless Gift--But Never Discover It!.......2007-08-26
This priceless gift is the understanding of how to use the power of your subconscious mind. I remember the distinct honor and privilege of being invited to Dr. Murphy's home in Beverly Hills back in 1978 where he personally enlightened me even more. I can remember now how incredibly peaceful and "holy" his living room felt. Dr. Murphy has passed on to higher realms, but his wisdom and jewels of thought are still with us. Get this book today it is your key to health, happiness, success, prosperity and peace of mind.
These are other great books along the same line as this one that I heartily recommend also:
Your Infinite Power to be Rich
Miracle of Mind Dynamics
The Amazing Laws of Cosmic Mind Power
Thank you, Dr. Murphy for your contribution to advancing humankind.
The author has a better book of the subject.......2007-07-26
Keep thinking good and good will follow. For your ways of thinking have more concrete power than you might ever have thought... This is a pretty good book about autosuggestion / power of thoughts / self-hypnosis, but you might also want to take a look at the author's other book called "Think Yourself to Health, Wealth & Happiness: The Best of Joseph Murphy's Cosmic Wisdom". -For personally, if I had to choose between these two books, I'd get the other one. It pretty much covers this book also.
My hardcover version of this book looks like a cheapo print. There are white edges around the black cover picture, like the picture wasn't big enough for the cover. And the spinal text is printed upside down - from bottom to top...
Judge for yourself.......2007-07-23
I got this from the net. It doesn't take a whole lot of intelligence to see how Joseph Murphy has taken words from the bible and completely twisted and perverted it's message. Murphy is like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
ONENESS WITH GOD
Rev. Joseph Murphy, Ph.D.
Excerpt from:
THIS IS IT: The Art of Metaphysical Demonstration
Church of Divine Science
Los Angeles, 3rd ed., 1948 Revised
"I AM the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me." (Isaiah 45:5). You, the reader, are the one and only being there is. When you say, "I AM," that means the sum-total of all the personalities in the world. All other conceptions are projections in space of the one being, yourself. In the Bible, which is a text book on psychology--metaphysics and man's moods and feelings--the "I AM" is constantly referred to as, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6). "I am the Resurrection and the Life." (John 11:25). "I am that I am." (Ex. 3:14). These and similar sayings shine forth in all their true brilliance when once we see that Jesus, the Christ, was not speaking of Himself personally, but of the principle of Being inherent in all mankind.
What Truth students fail to see is that there is only one man, for the same reason that there is only one God. God and man are one--"I am in the Father, and the Father in me." (John 14:11). You cannot divide One; infinity cannot be divided or multiplied. The seeming divisions are the illusions of separation. We must give recognition to that innermost Self which is pure Spirit, and which is not subject to any condition whatsoever. We feel that we are conditioned by time and space, but these conditions have no place in essential Being. The true recognition of the "I AM" is the acknowledgment of the Self within you. God, the Father, eternally subsisting in His own Being, sends forth all forms of His will. Likewise, all forms return to the formless One, according to an immutable law.
You, the one man, can comprehend the infinite Self within you by a limitless expansion of your conception of God. You thus return to the Universal Being as a son coming home to his father. The more we study the Bible the more we realize that, by the art of meditation--i.e., by going inward--we become greater in our knowledge and comprehension of the mysteries contained therein. The road inward is the road to greatness, the Royal Road of the Ancients, and for all men who desire to become united with the Supreme Cause, the root and substance of all.
YOU have always lived! "Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58). "When all things cease to be I AM." You, man, wrote the Bible! You may have forgotten it, but if you meditate on its passages, the subjective self within you will reveal to your conscious mind what you meant, when YOU wrote it thousands of years ago.
Time is an illusion; God is the eternal NOW. Thousands of years are as an instant. Aeons are as a day. Therefore, shed now the belief in time and the idea that we have to come back again and again to this earth plane--one time as John, another visit as Mary--in order to gain more experience, to perfect ourselves and become as Jesus, the Christ.
The only loss, limitation, restriction or evil in the world is our belief in loss, our belief in limitation, our belief in restriction and our belief in evil or disease. This is known as "the son of perdition" or sense of loss spoken of in the Bible. "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18). "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17). "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." (Ps. 86:5).
* * * * *
Yes, the things in this book might have worked, but I wonder how. This is a perfect example of what Paul spoke about the last days, of people "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof". What Joseph Murphy says blatantly twists religion to come up with his message.
There is more to this mystery than your subconscious fixing things for you.
Book Description
In this groundbreaking look at the future of education, game scientist David Williamson Shaffer offers a new and powerful way of looking at school, technology, and even thinking itself: a new model of education for a high-tech, digital world of global competition. How Computer Games Help Children Learn looks at how particular video and computer games can help teach our children and students to think like doctors, lawyers, engineers, urban planners, journalists, and other professionals. In the process, new "smart games" will give them the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a changing world.
Customer Reviews:
A Fascinating Concept of Games; needs more research.......2007-03-25
David Shaffer proposes here that we educate children by having them do the things adults do--only by simulating them in game form. This is an idea I haven't run across before, and I think it may have real merit.
I have a nine-year-old son who attends public school. His school spends a lot of money and effort on computer learning, but I have been frankly underwhelmed by the results. The educational software I've seen doesn't strike me as much of an advance over flash cards--just a lot more expensive. I consider myself generally a skeptic on the whole subject of computers in the classroom.
Shaffer's point is that not just any learning software will have educational benefits. The software must be a serious attempt to simulate the sort of tasks that adults do, such as running a business or designing a building. Shaffer calls these epistemic games. Shaffer's descriptions of some of these games do sound interesting, and he provides some evidence that children learn a lot from them. Shaffer's research seems to have dealt mainly with teenagers; his evidence for the benefits of these games seems much less solid for younger children.
I can't say that I'm convinced that computers in the classroom are worth the costs, but after reading Shaffer's book I'm willing to at least consider the idea. Shaffer may indeed have something here that could be a significant step forward in education.
That said, Shaffer's research strikes me as very preliminary. His studies involved only a few kids, who were far from randomly selected. The teachers were hand-picked, highly motivated, and interested in the subject they were teaching. The ratio of teachers to students was high, and the teachers put in a lot of effort. The kids were followed up for only a short time. This is a long way from being proof that the epistemic game concept works. In my opinion, it's very unlikely that conditions this favorable for learning could be maintained for large numbers of children for a long period at reasonable cost. Teachers putting in that kind of effort burn out quickly. Would epistemic games work with ordinary kids being taught by an ordinary teacher? Who knows? If this sounds like I'm being a bit of a sourpuss, the fact is that the history of education is absolutely replete with "reforms" that worked well with a few kids and a select group of teachers, but failed to improve education in the long term. American schools today are in very sad shape. Much of the blame for that goes to well-meaning educational reforms that were implemented too hastily, without evidence that they really improved educational outcomes for most children.
Overall, though, Shaffer's book is interesting and well worth reading.
innovative play.......2007-01-25
In this book, Shaffer takes the conversation about games and their relevance to society in general, and for children's learning in particular, to a new level. In a world where standardized thinking is rapidly being encapsulated in machines or outsourced, he says, education ought to be about providing young people with opportunities to learn innovative ways of thinking.
Which is where computer games come in: these games "are significant because they let us think in new ways" (p.191).
While touring a variety of video and other games, the book is centrally concerned with a new kind of game called an "epistemic game." In these games, players physically take on professional roles, like that of an engineer or architect, and use computers (and mentors/peers) to identify and solve problems - to think - like professionals.
In each of its six chapters, the book explores a specific epistemic game, such as Digital Zoo (about engineering), through a particular professional dimension, such as the specific "Knowlege" or "Values" of an engineer. (Promising commercial games are discussed along similar lines at the end of each chapter as well.) As a result, the book moves easily back and forth between personal stories and impressive studies, helping readers connect solid research on game playing with important learning theories.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in games, learning, and compelling visions for how to transform education.
A better way to teach today's kids... and then some........2007-01-11
Dr. Shaffer aims high and really hits the mark. Most recent, successful books about learning and video games go for the seasoned computer aficionado (me), or the rank computer newbie (my husband). Rarely do they target both. Shaffer's topics are deep and wide, but his language is fluid and unassuming; as a result, both audiences will find useful chunks of knowledge that resonate.
It is not hard to understand why todays twelve-year-olds would rather play SIMS or DOOM than finish their math homework. Shaffer (and his excellent team of graduate students) makes a very compelling case for why those experiences need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, if the games in the book become more the standard in U.S. schools, there might indeed be hope for our kids in the world-wide digital market after all.
Book Description
THE NEXT BIG IDEA IS OUT THERE—YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO SPOT IT Creativity is crucial to business and design success. How do you unleash bursts of creativity, increase occurrences of spontaneity and ultimately find great ideas? Through anecdotes, interviews, quotes, tips, creative exercises and success stories from the biggest corporations in the country, author Sam Harrison shows you how to think outside the box—then throw away the box for good. You'll be encouraged to: *Listen and observe *Step outside your daily routine *Explore through travel *Find ideas in nature *Break out of ruts *Learn from mistakes *Get past the surface *Connect existing ideas Busy professionals CAN learn how to peek under the mundane to find the magical, to find insights rather than information, and to learn what makes their clients laugh, cry, scream—and ultimately buy. "One good idea is all you need to change your life; this book shows you how to find it."
—Brian Tracy, author of Getting Rich Your Own Way "If the best way to find a good idea is to find lots of ideas, then here's the best guidebook I know for your hunt."
—Brian Collins, Ogilvy & Mather Brand Integration Group "Exercise for the brain is just as important as exercise for the body. In Ideaspotting, Sam Harrison stretches your mental muscles in a way you'll never forget."
—Al Ries, author of The Origin of Brands
Customer Reviews:
Get those creative juices flowing.......2007-03-28
A very quick read (could easily be knocked out in a weekend), this book is a good mixture of actionable items and creative stimulation. Get out of your comfort zone and pay attention to everything around you is one of the themes of this book along with taking good notes in some fashion because your creative thoughts and ideas may not be as easy to remember as you believe they will be at a later time. Anyone can be creative if they put themselves in a postion to encourage it.
Overall, I really liked the book and appreciate the advice and action items contained within. If you're looking to stimulate your creative juices, get and read Idea Spotting. I also read Zing, and Idea Spotting contains similar material so if you're wondering which book to choose--go with this one.
Great to ponder; don't read it straight through.......2007-02-12
Ideaspotting is an intriguing book that would make a great college graduation gift. It can teach the uninitiated new ways of looking at the world and ways to think through problems, take notes and get inspired. It seems to owe at least a little of its existence, as do most books in the design/brand/marketing space these days, to The Brand Gap
For those not set for graduation, I would recommend spending your money on Ideaspotting. It will fit nicely on your shelf next to the other books you use to get your creative juices flowing (or read during long conference calls). It has some thought provoking ideas and, I believe, can help expand your thinking.
I give it a real world rating of 3 stars. The Brand Gap and its sibling Zag are both 4 star books. A 5 star book has yet to be written.
Worth every penny - but..........2006-12-12
Here's the skinny...
This book is by far the easiest of all idea books to read, most relevant, most thorough, but potentially most dangerous. Before I make a couple critiques, don't let what I'm about to say dissuade you from buying this gem, these are just caveats and the book is still a deal!
Page 25 - Alcan/CocaCola and Ethnography: When I read this I though, "Great, I'll use ethnography to solve my innovation problems." Being the information pig that I am I checked this "idea" out with a professional, a doctor of Anthropology at the local university. We had a 30 minute chat and I came away with the thought "Alcan doesn't have a clue what they are talking about." What was described on page 25 was single variable observation, not ethnography. In fact, single variable observation has lead to problem after problem for marketers, Dr. "C" gave me these examples, 1) `Got Milk?' when marketed towards the Hispanic population translated into "Are you Lactating?" 2) McDonald's in parts of China had Ronald McDonald march in a parade, this was analogous to having the grim reaper march in the Santa Clause parade. 3) Chevy Nova in Mexico - we all know that one. And he gave me many other examples of major blunders that were directly attributed to single variable observation.
Page 47 - Hasbro and the "Alpha Pups": This is an excellent example of a major short coming with this book - there is no depth. The book summed up a major research and development initiative in a hundred or so words.
I chose the two examples because they are familiar ground for me. If you want to know how well a book is written analyze what was said against what you know. If there are faults then there are probably faults with the other sections. I can't fault the other sections because I'm not an expert on them or know an expert to discuss them with. Therefore there are probably other faults in the other articles as well. Is this a moot point because the book is intended to be an overview on a couple hundred techniques? Maybe. But then that's for the prospective readers to decide and measure their needs against. [...]
Highly recommended for those who are feeling stuck.......2006-10-01
Read this book when I was working on an important assignment. The timing was brilliant because I was coming out with predictable boring ideas. This book helped me look at the issue in a hundred different ways. The techniques for spotting ideas are really simple and we can use them any time anywhere.
If you have to submit proposals/ideas to clients/management, do not do so until you have seen this book.
A Great Book to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing.......2006-09-26
This is one of the best books I've read on generating creative ideas, and I've read many of them. It is clear, simple and to the point, and gives plenty of examples of creative techniques and applications. The book has many references to a wide variety of creatives, from the most well known (Da Vinci, etc) to those lesser known to the common man yet creating effectively in their own spheres. It also provides useful note-taking areas for specific creative tasks, which are wonderfully effective for following up on the suggested activities.
Book Description
It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be is a handbook of how to succeed in the world - a pocket 'bible' for the talented and timid to make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible. The world's top advertising guru, Paul Arden, offers up his wisdom on issues as diverse as problem solving, responding to a brief, communicating, playing your cards right, making mistakes and creativity, all notions that can be applied to aspects of modern life. This book provides a unique insight into the world of advertising and is a quirky compilation of quotes, facts, pictures, wit and wisdom, packed into easy-to-digest, bite-sized spreads. If you want to succeed in life or business, this is a must!Paul Arden began his career in advertising at the age of 16. For 14 years he was Executive Creative Director at Saatchi and Saatchi, where he was responsible for some of Britain's best known campaigns including British Airways, Silk Cut, Anchor Butter, InterCity and Fuji. His famous slogans include 'The Car in front is a Toyota' and 'The Independent - It is - Are You?'. In 1993 he set up the London-based production company Arden Sutherland-Dodd where he is now a commercials director for clients such as BT, BMW, Ford, Nestle and Levis.
Customer Reviews:
Talk like a West-Indian..........2007-08-15
Perhaps most useful if you're dumb, silly & blind and a fresh-faced intern
in the marketing/PR biz.
The randomness of this collection made me wonder if he wrote it over the
course of two weeks worth of company wash room visits in a particularly
constipated period of his life... In the end, the joke was on me.
Waste of money. Someone pass the soap plz...
In case you're wondering, the title of this review references the rather
insulting example of how to 'accentuate the positive'. That was really
the best example this creative gOD could come up with? Wow!
Bible of Advertising.......2007-08-11
This is the advertising bible. My blog has more specifics and will continue to feature more about the book, how it is utilized (at least from my planning perspective) and why it's just brilliant. I highly recommend. It's the no duhs that are sometimes the biggest a-has.
http://www.noduhbigaha.blogspot.com/
Highly creative book about becoming more creative.......2007-07-25
This is a highly creative book about becoming more creative. It is filled with provoking thoughts and exercises. I recommend this book very much to anyone seeking to expand, enrich, widen their personal creativity. It could easily be a supplementary textbook for many courses in high school and college.
Quick and Useful.......2007-06-27
It takes a really short time to read. Very easy and straight to the point. Will; keep it around to remind myself of how I'm going to become rich and famous:)
Fantastic little gem.......2007-06-18
I love that most reviewers give this book either five stars or just one. That fits with the book's philosophy; Arden urges readers to take risks and produce works that some people will love and others will hate.
"It's not how good you are..." is small and short but brilliantly crafted. The ideas inside are simple but inspiring. Its insights apply to advertising and to life in general.
I love this book not just for what it says, but how it says it it.
I even love the way the paper smells.
Book Description
Whether you wish to create a work of art, a novel, a thriving business, nourishing relationships, or a deeply satisfying life, Robert Fritz, composer, artist, writer, and entrepreneur, reveals the guiding principles that can empower you to reach your goals.
Customer Reviews:
Distinguishing Creating from Creativity.......2007-08-03
While some reviewers may have hoped for help on overcoming creative blocks, it seems they miss the point.
Robert Fritz makes a big distinction between creating and creativity. To create, you have to care about bringing something into reality that doesn't exist. As Fritz says, "Creating is in the realm of the noninevitable."
Creativity, in contrast, refers to the unusual and inventive, and Fritz argues that:
"Creating sometimes includes creativity, but most often it does not. As you master the creative process, the unusual becomes usual, and so it will seem less creative. You may be creating, then, and not have creativity. Likewise, you can have creativity but not be creating."
I had this discussion with a software engineer working on a major user interface introduction. Fritz would have him first determine what he loves enough to create, what are its qualities, and what is the "result" he wants to create. It's not about being infinitely creative, his engineers are already doing too much of that. It's about creating around a single design point versus maintaining too many open possibilities.
Another part of the book I really liked was "First Person/Third Person." Fritz makes the distinction between people who see their creations as part of their identity (meaning they are apt to "advocate a specific position") and those who remain separate from, while still passionate about, their creations (people "more apt to seek accuracy") as they encounter reality.
In "The Worldview," Fritz carries this theme further, quoting Robert Frost in saying: "The artist must not select a universal and then find particulars to fit it."
In the end, Fritz argues for pure emotion ("you want what you want") along with a rigorous process ("the creative process is made up of many steps in a particular sequence"). He believes that if you're frustrated in creating something, it's nothing more than not knowing what you want and/or inexperience in the creation process!
Pragmatic, demystification, just slightly marred.......2004-02-13
This book sets out to demystify creating, to pragmatically assist the reader in learning ideas and processes that can be applied to creating works of art, craft, business, et cetera. It's well worth reading for that pragmatic purpose. The first chapter sample, available on "look inside" on this web site, gives a good sample of Fritz' approach, uncluttered by the flaws noted in later sections of the book. He emphasized some steps and aspects of process that I wasn't so starkly aware of. I've created effective cartoons, articles, essays, songs, clothing designs, gardens, et cetera, but this book could help in becoming much more productive.
Some sections of the book launch into an attack on cultural assumptions. Bravo. Most of it was valid in supporting his approach to creating. However, I was uncomfortable with some of his extreme statements about certain disciplines and cultural traditions. He seemed to dismiss all of psychotherapy, and take some cheap shots, for instance, rather than limiting his comments to self-indulgent and deluded approaches. He overgeneralized and thus misrepresented other cultural traditions, ideas, and disciplines. For example:
"While meditation and psychotherapy may have replaced tranquilizing and recreational drugs, all of them presume you are entitled to feel good, even if you need to dull your senses and color reality to find happiness, self-love and fulfillment." p122 Fawcett edition, 1991
On the contrary, I would argue, going through a course of therapy based on Alice Miller's (sample title: Thou Shalt Not be Aware) views might allow and traumatized individual to function in life without enduring constant shaming, flashbacks, and emotional paralysis. It can be important to examine emotions, and feel good at times. Also the meditation I have personal experience of, mindfulness and insight meditation, as described by Chogyam Trungpa (sample title: Meditation in Action) and others are not about brainwashing oneself or dulling the senses. In fact, mindfulness meditation is likely to lead to some of the same insights and awareness Fritz describes in his discussion of the mind, separation, and so on. Fritz would do better if he didn't dismiss everyone else's work. Yes, it's true that people can get too focused on transient emotions and fixing the self. However, meditation and psychotherapy do still have something to offer, keeping in mind the 80/20 rule -- most of everything is crap, so buyer beware.
Ironically, right after Fritz' section on the lack of necessity to choose a right worldview, he launches into what is obviously his worldview. Oh, he has a disclaimer, and he's not dogmatic at that particular moment, but still, throughout the book, he does argue for his views of how things work, what will be if you follow his process. My suggestion: just ignore his adamant, paternalistic ranting, see through it, and go for his basic ideas, which are useful even though he has an obnoxious personality and a bit of a ham-fisted way of throwing around generalizations.
If you want to create something, this book can challenge you in a useful way.
I'm more lost than when I started.......2001-06-09
I have to admit, I was pretty excited to read this. However, after finishing it, I am fairly neutral to the application of Fritz' theories. I was expecting a book on methods of relieving creative block and getting into the creative mindset. While the book does accomplish this to some extent, most of it takes you through many of Fritz' anti-philosophical/self-help theories. This is fine for a book about that sort of thing, and I agree with what he says (for the most part) but I fail to make the connections he is trying so hard to show the reader. Maybe I just need time to absorb, and test his theories in real life. Oh, and if he plugged his "Technologies for Creating" workshops (registered trademark) one more time, I was going to throw the book out of my car window. Anyway, I will re-review this book after I have some time to put into practice some of his theories. Who knows, maybe there is a connection between painting a picture and the Holocaust. (see section on identity)
Great ideas, though not a totally reader-friendly book!.......2001-03-01
I had to give it five stars because it did such a job stimulating me with its new ideas about creating. At times it's slow to pore over. You're excited at the stuff you're learning, but the prose feels a bit tedious, so it's like being chin-deep in water and wanting to race ashore for something great. But this book's concepts, about the structure of creating, are so mind-blowing to us "creatives" that it's a must to sit and take it a swallow at a time. Fritz's challenging ideas allowed me to expand my thinking about myself, to see myself not as a writer but as a creating person (one of whose creating modes is writing). My promotion of my written materials is an act of creating. So is the plan I'm putting together for my life. Wow!
Getting the results you want.......2000-03-28
I bought this book because creating always felt like a white-hot, hit or miss, lightning flash, that also felt dangerous and fearful, like having to step off a cliff into thin air. Author of The Path of Least Resistance, Robert Fritz, in Creating, says thin air is good. And -- gulp -- he's right. For Fritz, creating is an ordinary and understandable skill we can learn -- and we can, he says, learn to do it better and more often. He's right about that, too. He says creating is getting the results we want in any area of our lives -- work projects, art work, career, relationships, community. It is a process with form and shape. It's not problem-solving, or reaching for the unusual, or about inventiveness or "creative ability." Anyone can do it. And he outlines nine stages of the process, from conception to living with what you create. Creating ranges far, around and through the subject, offering practical approaches and even a warm-up guide, and he deals with hindrances like the discrepancies between "Ideal-Belief-Reality" that get in the way. If this book helps you surface what he calls "invisible beliefs" that get in the way of what you want in life, it's worth three times the price. Fritz argues creating is not discovery. Some people take his seminar to discover what really matters to them, but as he says, that idea "presumes that what matters somehow already exists (p. 118)." Creating brings into existence something that did not exist before, makes something from nothing. This book is broader and deeper than the typical how-to-create book -- it doesn't talk about brainstorming or problem-solving or creativity. It describes how to become aware of the process and some of its pitfalls, and how to do it in a way that helps you get the results you want. I have no problem with a point of view that our ideas can help or hinder us in getting what we want. For those who do, this book may open their eyes.
Book Description
What do Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leonardo da Vinci, and Ray Kroc, the man who created the McDonald's franchise enterprise, have in common? They have all mastered the skills of creative genius-essential tools in today's business climate.
Having researched the lives and techniques of past and present geniuses for this inspiring and provocative new handbook, Annette Moser-Wellman helps workers at all levels build and refine their working styles. These qualities of creativity-drawn from the the realms of art, science, as well as business-make up the five distinct "faces":
* Seer-the power to image
* Observer-the power to notice details
* Alchemist-the power to make connections
* Fool-the power to celebrate weakness
* Sage-the power to simplify
Moser-Wellman shows how we can utilize these creative thinking strategies and flourish in the workplace.
"It teaches people about the nature of creativity and how to cultivate it." (Fast Company)
"Moser-Wellman has given us five different perspectives from which to creatively tackle business challenges." (Carla J. Paonessa, Managing Partner, Accenture)
Customer Reviews:
Useful With An Asterisk..........2005-11-10
But so are most books of this type. The book's best feature is a nice combination of detail with theory. There are lots of exercises and a generally cheery "you can do it!" tone. That's good, but the book's recurring emphasis on developing multi-modal approaches to problem-solving is better (i.e., creativity means trying approaches you're not as familiar with). Concluding sections on interacting with people of dominant types that differ from you, and how to sell your ideas to them, is probably worth the cover price alone.
The author loves examples. These examples are not always correct (salons peaked in the 1700s, not the "seventeenth century" to cite one of more than a dozen examples), nor do they fit as neatly into their creative categories as the author supposes. In part, though, the reader comes to see this as the unique characteristics of a certain creative style--seeing this and making allowance for it is good practice for the rest of the book. After all, true creativity is aware of variant creative modes, especially in colleagues or even competitors.
The morning after skimming the entire book I began to experiment with some of its suggestions. Within two hours I had come up with a metaphor that will solve one of the most intractable process problems for my company--an idea that literally took my breath away, on something I'd been struggling with for months. I put a lot of work in; this book didn't give me any answers. But in a sense it reminded me of the answer, or gave me ideas about how and where to look for the answer. I was a college football player already, to use a metaphor, and this was a long look at a pro playbook. It won't work unless you're playing college ball; if you're a top pro player, you should look at something more advanced. But if you want to develop a basis of creative talent, this'll help.
Interesting perspectives on creative thinking styles.......2003-12-27
This book starts off a quick précis of the 5 faces : Seer, Observer, Alchemist, Fool, Sage. Then it gives a self-assessment of which Styles you are currently using. I scored highest on Fool & Observer, and lowest on Sage.
As I read through the book, I was disillusioned as to its worth. But when I got to Fool, I thought "that's me exactly" (there's no shame in being a 'Fool' in this schema).
So I looked back at the earlier chapters, and thought maybe the questions & examples were not as appropriate as they might have been?
Anyway, I began to appreciate the book more. Certainly the latter sections on how to apply the 5 different styles at work, and the strengths & weaknesses of teams who find themselves with & without all these players, were of more use than the theorising.
There are other books offering rival schemas, but I think this one is as good as any of the others, and easier to read.
Books:
- About Wine
- Ace the IT Resume!
- An Introduction to Mixed-Signal IC Test and Measurement (The Oxford Series in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Applying Career Development Theory to Counseling
- Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill Pocket Reference)
- Becoming a Helper
- Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement
- Ben & Jerry's: The Inside Scoop: How Two Real Guys Built a Business with a Social Conscience and a Sense of Humor
- Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions
- Blackwell's Survival Guide for Interns
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Suite Française
- History: Fiction or Science
- Undergraduate Econometrics
- A Dialogue on the Law of Kingship Among the Scots: A Critical Edition and Translation of George Buch
- Compact Stellar X-ray Sources
- Fundamentals of Multinational Finance
- Evelina: or The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World
- The Hidden Cost of Being African American: How Wealth Perpetuates Inequality
- Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction: The Architect's and Builder's Guide to
- A field guide to Australian native shrubs
A Kick in the Seat of the Pants
Creative Whack Pack
Innovative Whack Pack
Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius
Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques (2nd Edition)
