The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

Amazon.com

Updated Edition: Thomas L. Friedman is not so much a futurist, which he is sometimes called, as a presentist. His aim in The World Is Flat, as in his earlier, influential Lexus and the Olive Tree, is not to give you a speculative preview of the wonders that are sure to come in your lifetime, but rather to get you caught up on the wonders that are already here. The world isn't going to be flat, it is flat, which gives Friedman's breathless narrative much of its urgency, and which also saves it from the Epcot-style polyester sheen that futurists--the optimistic ones at least--are inevitably prey to.

What Friedman means by "flat" is "connected": the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution that have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. This in itself should not be news to anyone. But the news that Friedman has to deliver is that just when we stopped paying attention to these developments--when the dot-com bust turned interest away from the business and technology pages and when 9/11 and the Iraq War turned all eyes toward the Middle East--is when they actually began to accelerate. Globalization 3.0, as he calls it, is driven not by major corporations or giant trade organizations like the World Bank, but by individuals: desktop freelancers and innovative startups all over the world (but especially in India and China) who can compete--and win--not just for low-wage manufacturing and information labor but, increasingly, for the highest-end research and design work as well. (He doesn't forget the "mutant supply chains" like Al-Qaeda that let the small act big in more destructive ways.)

Friedman has embraced this flat world in his own work, continuing to report on his story after his book's release and releasing an unprecedented hardcover update of the book a year later with 100 pages of revised and expanded material. What's changed in a year? Some of the sections that opened eyes in the first edition--on China and India, for example, and the global supply chain--are largely unaltered. Instead, Friedman has more to say about what he now calls "uploading," the direct-from-the-bottom creation of culture, knowledge, and innovation through blogging, podcasts, and open-source software. And in response to the pleas of many of his readers about how to survive the new flat world, he makes specific recommendations about the technical and creative training he thinks will be required to compete in the "New Middle" class. As before, Friedman tells his story with the catchy slogans and globe-hopping anecdotes that readers of his earlier books and his New York Times columns know well, and he holds to a stern sort of optimism. He wants to tell you how exciting this new world is, but he also wants you to know you're going to be trampled if you don't keep up with it. A year later, one can sense his rising impatience that our popular culture, and our political leaders, are not helping us keep pace. --Tom Nissley

Where Were You When the World Went Flat?

Thomas L. Friedman's reporter's curiosity and his ability to recognize the patterns behind the most complex global developments have made him one of the most entertaining and authoritative sources for information about the wider world we live in, both as the foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times and as the author of landmark books like From Beirut to Jerusalem and The Lexus and the Olive Tree. They also make him an endlessly fascinating conversation partner, and we've now had the chance to talk to him about The World Is Flat twice. Read our original interview with him following the publication of the first edition of The World Is Flat to learn why there's almost no one from Washington, D.C., listed in the index of a book about the global economy, and what his one-plank platform for president would be. (Hint: his bumper stickers would say, "Can You Hear Me Now?")

And now you can listen to our second interview, in which he talks about the updates he's made in "The World Is Flat 2.0," including his response to parents who said to him, "Great, Mr. Friedman, I'm glad you told us the world is flat. Now what do I tell my kids?"

The Essential Tom Friedman

From Beirut to Jerusalem
The Lexus and the Olive Tree
Longitudes and Attitudes

More on Globalization and Development

China, Inc. by Ted Fishman
Three Billion New Capitalists by Clyde Prestowitz
The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs

Globalization and Its Discontents by Joseph Stiglitz
The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli
The Mystery of Capital by Hernando de Soto

Book Description

The World Is Flat is Thomas L. Friedman’s account of the great changes taking place in our time, as lightning-swift advances in technology and communications put people all over the globe in touch as never before—creating an explosion of wealth in India and China, and challenging the rest of us to run even faster just to stay in place. This updated and expanded edition features more than a hundred pages of fresh reporting and commentary, drawn from Friedman’s travels around the world and across the American heartland—from anyplace where the flattening of the world is being felt.

In The World Is Flat, Friedman at once shows “how and why globalization has now shifted into warp drive” (Robert Wright, Slate) and brilliantly demystifies the new flat world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering scene unfolding before their eyes. With his inimitable ability to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues, he explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; how governments and societies can, and must, adapt; and why terrorists want to stand in the way. More than ever, The World Is Flat is an essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.

Download Description

The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist gives a bold, timely, and surprising picture of the state of globalization in the twenty-first century

Customer Reviews:

My opinion is flat.......2007-10-03

When a book has had over a thousand reviews, what can I possibly say that hasn't already been said? So I will keep it short and not so sweet.

No one will read this book, or any of the updates, for "fun." Do you NEED to read it? Yes, it contains some important economic concepts and realities, but it's a bit overlong. I'd say it could be cut in half, so skim through some of the numerous "interviews," repetition of central points, and endless advice and encouragement. The global pie is getting bigger and better, but the competition for piecies of that pie is heating up. Smart, ambitious, creative people will thrive; slow, lazy, dull people will languish, and everything inbetween. For too long many Americans have been sitting on their laurels and the day of reckoning is near. Heed this warning: Put down your TV remotes, game controllers, and iPods, and start working like your life (or lifestyle) depended on it. Get your rear into some serious gear, and don't balk at the notion that you should be an "expert" in at least three different, unrelated fields. Does this scare or excite you?

In so many interviews with foreign entrepreneurs, we are told (or reassured) that no matter how much of the "mundane" work is performed by countries other than the U.S., America's creative and innovative spark is still unsurpassed: All the world looks to America to lead the way into the future. I'm not sure. A lot of that "mundane" work was high level and highly paid, and why should we expect that America will continue to dominate in creativity and innovation? The truth is, we're in for a flattening of living standards, and from the perspective of the relatively high American standard of living, it will seem like a drop in standards until we reach another equilibrium (who knows how long that will take?). In any case, the reassurances about the talents and abilities of Americans seem at odds with other parts of the book, such as Bill Gates feeling "terrified at the American work force of tomorrow."

If you're already working hard at becoming an expert in three fields, then you probably don't need to read this book. Indeed, you probably don't have time to read it, or to read and write Amazon reviews, for that matter.

Great book to introduce an inside to the 90's and now.......2007-10-03

This was an excellent book for someone who is ever curious about the expanding global ecomomy as a whole. As a sailor in the U.S. Navy I found the book fasinating because I not only grew up during which most of the book was talking about but I am witnessing the predictions of the book first hand. Great book all around!!

Friedman's writing and subjects are captivating.......2007-09-27

Are you still a little confused about why American corporations are outsourcing to India and manufacturing in China, or why Al Qaeda has suddenly become so powerful? If so, this is the book for you.

Friedman's made 'Globalization' simple enough for a high school student to understand. That being said, this is NOT a high school textbook. It is NOT dry. Friedman is a great journalist and an author who will hold your attention chapter after chapter.

Friedman has a knack for taking complex and often emotionally charged issues and breaking them down into easy to understand concepts. You don't have to be a graduate student to enjoy this book. It's great!

Globalization 3.0.......2007-09-24

I wish I had read this book during a Globalization class I took a year ago.

Friedman is an exceptional writer, very engaging. He really lays out the information well and then brings in together in the latter part of the book.

I thought the middle part of the book could of been edited a bit.

Overall, an excellent introduction to globalization and the affect this will have on the US and industries in general.

Great Read.......2007-09-23

I actually listened to the audio version of this book for an information technology class I teach and found his discussion of the flatteners of the world very interesting and well explained.

The writing style, although technical at times, has a narrative style to it.

One critique I have of the book is that the author may be a little over optimistic about how new technologies and global connections will benefit everyone in the world.

Certainly worth a read (or listen).

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

Average customer rating:

great business tool
Great Insight, Good Tools
Very good...
Ignores conversational reality
Excellent Tool

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
Kerry Patterson , Joseph Grenny , Ron McMillan , Al Switzler , and Stephen R. Covey
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Crucial Confrontations
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Fierce Conversations: Achieving Sucess at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time

Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0071401946

Book Description

The New York Times Bestseller!

Learn how to keep your cool and get the results you want when emotions flare.

When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, you have three choices: Avoid a crucial conversation and suffer the consequences; handle the conversation badly and suffer the consequences; or read Crucial Conversations and discover how to communicate best when it matters most. Crucial Conversations gives you the tools you need to step up to life's most difficult and important conversations, say what's on your mind, and achieve the positive resolutions you want. You'll learn how to:

Prepare for high-impact situations with a six-minute mastery technique
Make it safe to talk about almost anything
Be persuasive, not abrasive
Keep listening when others blow up or clam up
Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want

Whether they take place at work or at home, with your neighbors or your spouse, crucial conversations can have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. With the skills you learn in this book, you'll never have to worry about the outcome of a crucial conversation again.

Download Description

Crucial Conversations offers readers a proven seven-point strategy for achieving their goals in all those emotionally, psychologically, or legally charged situations that can arise in their professional and personal lives.

Customer Reviews:

great business tool.......2007-10-01

ordered 15 copies to distribute around our department... received rave reviews from everyone who read it.

Great Insight, Good Tools.......2007-09-21

Wow! It's amazing how often I see my friends, family and MYSELF in both examples and in the strategies (some good, some bad!).

This is a great book to come upon when one needs it. Obviously, some have been forced to read it by a boss... and I'm not so sure that the message gets across that way.

Does this book cure all of the social inequities of the workplace? Of course not - that's not what it even attempts to do!

Rather, it's a series of tools for enhancing communication and, for many of us, these tools are a surprising way of looking at all conversations - particularly the non-productive ones.

Do I recommend this book? 100%!!! Would I give it as a gift to someone who "needed" it? Maybe not. It's best found when the time is right, not forced on someone when the time is wrong.

Very good..........2007-09-18

Very good book for succesful managers, but also for amateurs interested in improving their communication skills. Of course, for some professionals that one may be "just another one".

Ignores conversational reality.......2007-09-06

Do we need a book to tell us that if we and/or our conversational partners are overly emotional or argumentative, create an uncomfortable or unsafe setting, clam up, will not listen, are incapable of adaptation or appreciating other views, or are not overly bright that chances for conversational success are greatly diminished. The author's message is that in the absence of these negativities, that basically free-flowing dialog where all the relevant information is brought into the open will result in effective communication. The emphasis in the book is within business organizations, in particular between employees and employers, although the ideas pertain to all other so-called high stakes conversations between various persons. However, the book absolutely fails to deal with conversational reality.

It is readily obvious that the authors are consultants to the business community (managers), because of their dismissal of the power differentials in the workplace. Their citing of a few brave employees who questioned or contradicted a top manager, serves merely to reinforce the hazards to employees for speaking out in the workplace. Of course, such non-controversial topics as safety, productivity, or where to have the company picnic can be broached. Fundamental topics such as policies, strategies, products, marketing, structures, or personnel are invariably off limits. If the authors wanted to be serious about conversations within businesses, they would propose democratic participation structures, where workers or their elected representatives could freely, without fear of retribution, address any and all issues, not just the safe ones. Bravery or putting one's job on the line would not be necessary.

It is hardly just within businesses where crucial conversations are prevented despite one's best efforts. Bureaucracies and other barriers are often initiated specifically to prevent conversations. Try talking to an insurance company about drug or treatment denial. Try talking to a sales person about a corporate product or service. Try getting through a telephone answering system only to be stonewalled by an "associate." Try talking to a doctor about treatments or, better yet, fees. Try talking to a department head about the nature or conduct of your education. The list is endless where most people do not have a chance of a meaningful or effective conversation.

This book is like so many other "blame the victim" notions. If you are not having good conversations, it must be because "you" don't have the right "tools" to converse. It can't be that the person you are talking to has the power to inflict damage or is within a structure where they can simply ignore you or dispense pabulum. A democracy is based above all on wide-ranging conversation among equal citizens with hopefully widely accepted resolutions. Maybe some day in the US we will try a form of democracy within all of our organizations in which "conversations" are not one-sided with the possibility of punishment for even speaking. Now there is an idea for the authors to grasp.

Excellent Tool.......2007-08-30

So very true....we move to either silence or violence...why not have a tool to charter those waters to resolution without either silence or violence.

Business Communication: Process and Product (with InfoTrac®)

Average customer rating:

Student review
BUSINESS WRITING INSTRUCTION TAKES QUANTUM LEAP!
Perfect for the Classroom!
A Great Book for College Students
BC:PP is an instructor's dream!

Business Communication: Process and Product (with InfoTrac®)
Mary Ellen Guffey
Manufacturer: South-Western College Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Study Guide for Guffey's Business Communication: Process and Product, 5th
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Accessories:

Study Guide for Guffey's Business Communication: Process and Product, 5th

ASIN: 0324223048

Book Description

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT is a time-tested, Web-supported, teaching/learning/testing system that delivers comprehensive resources. The text uses the 3-x-3 writing process to guide the user in writing effectively. Accurate, detailed model documents provide numerous examples for learners to emulate, and abundant activities and cases develop skills. The variety and depth of resources in both print and electronic media are unmatched by any competitor. Mary Ellen Guffey leads the market in providing instructors with timely, innovative, and continuously refreshed teaching tips and support through her Web sites, monthly newsletters, and conference presentations.

Customer Reviews:

Student review.......2006-10-19

My writing has improved 200% because of the information presented in this book. I am a junior marketing major at Northern Illinois University. This text is enjoyable to read with great visuals and equally interesting real- world examples. I will definitely keep this book. The skills learned from this book will guide me in my career for years to come. Thank you for writing this book and to my professor for choosing this book.

BUSINESS WRITING INSTRUCTION TAKES QUANTUM LEAP!.......2004-10-01

As a college business communication instructor and corporate writing consultant of 20+ years, I feel my career is about to take a quantum leap forward with my discovery of this magnificent compendium of materials. Mary Ellen Guffey has done ALL the hard work! Juicy, readable text: done. Riveting "inside" information on cool corporations: done. Web-based support? Manuals? PowerPoints? Videos? Done. Fresh writing prompts, some packaged with the research already done? Done. With my old text, I've been drowning in an attempt to supplement and update and enrich the dated material enough to keep it relevant and arresting. Now I'm finding that I have plenty of time to interact with students over their own writing and presentations. I've always felt one-on-one and small-group interaction to be a huge part of my mission as a classroom teacher. Thanks to Mary Ellen Guffey, I'm able to do more of it, while spending less time overall on take-home work. Thank you, Mary Ellen, from the trenches--not just for a marvelous tool, but for a whole toolbox full of them.

Perfect for the Classroom!.......2004-09-27

I am an instructor at a business college, and this textbook (along with the accompanying website for students) proved to be wonderful for use in the classroom. The chapters were lively (even for a four-hour lecture class!) and provided real-world details and examples. The website accompanying the textbook has plenty of extra information for classroom use, as well as activities that students can do to review chapters and test their grammar skills.

A Great Book for College Students.......2004-09-23

Business Communication: Process and Product has been the best textbook I have worked with. Everything is presented in a clear and reader-friendly manner. Of all the books I have had to purchase for my courses, this was well worth the investment. Even though I recently earned my degree, and am no longer taking classes, I am still benefiting from owning this book.

BC:PP is an instructor's dream!.......2004-09-22

I teach an entry level MBA class that focuses on Leadership and Communication. Previously, the text for this class was average to poor. I dreaded using it. Starting this semester, we're using Mary Ellen Guffey's Business Communication: Process and Product text. It's a dream! It's a joy as an instructor to have an academic text such as BC:PP that is (a) very applicable to real-world business situations, (b) easy and fun to read, and (c) filled with tons of great ideas for class and homework assignments. In addition, instructors can request support materials such as video, PowerPoint chapter reviews, chapter tests, etc. that save a TON of time and effort! I am truly enjoying using this book, as are my students. I'd HIGHLY recommend it for any undergrad or graduate level communication course!

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Average customer rating:

Entertaining
Great Purchase
Fantastic! One of my favorite books of all time!
How make sure your ideas are heard
Take it to work...

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Chip Heath , and Dan Heath
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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WORDS THAT WORK: IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S WHAT PEOPLE HEAR

ASIN: 1400064287
Release Date: 2007-01-02

Book Description

Mark Twain once observed, “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.” His observation rings true: Urban legends, conspiracy theories, and bogus public-health scares circulate effortlessly. Meanwhile, people with important ideas–business people, teachers, politicians, journalists, and others–struggle to make their ideas “stick.”

Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of worthy ideas? In Made to Stick, accomplished educators and idea collectors Chip and Dan Heath tackle head-on these vexing questions. Inside, the brothers Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the “human scale principle,” using the “Velcro Theory of Memory,” and creating “curiosity gaps.”

In this indispensable guide, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds–from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony–draw their power from the same six traits.

Made to Stick is a book that will transform the way you communicate ideas. It’s a fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures)–the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who drank a glass of bacteria to prove a point about stomach ulcers; the charities who make use of “the Mother Teresa Effect”; the elementary-school teacher whose simulation actually prevented racial prejudice. Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas–and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining.......2007-10-01

This is a fun book, full of useful communication ideas. If you are in marketing or communications there is likely little here that is new. However, for the general reader this is a clear, simple summary of techniques to help you get your points across. They have the traditional way to remember their seven major ideas: SUCCESS. For example, the first "S" is to keep it Simple. This is actually better than it sounds because they drill down on the need to find your core message and they give you some ideas about how to do that. You can pick it up at the airport and it is short enough to read crossing the country.

Great Purchase.......2007-09-27

This was a terrific book at a great Amazon price!The book gives a tutorial on creating catch phrases that are impressive and memorable. I read it for use in my teaching ... we do want our students to remember things! My husbannd read it for use in his business, specifically for marketing and advertising. I saved $10 per copy at Amazon.

Fantastic! One of my favorite books of all time!.......2007-09-24

This is now one of my favorite books of all time. If you liked The Tipping Point and/or Blink, you'll love this one! Well written with lots of useful lessons and stories. I'm going to read it again as well as sign up for a training that the author is offering in Hartford on November 13th.

How make sure your ideas are heard.......2007-09-21

I wish I had this book 10 years ago. It is a great read, with lots of tips and techniques on how to get others to recognize and listen to your ideas.

Take it to work..........2007-09-16

My 25-minute commute to and from work with a MP3 player is not at all stressful but sometimes monotonous. I plopped in the audio book CDs sequentially into my now-obsolete auto CD player, and voila! Well spent time listening to a useful method, a small part of which I already knew but hadn't yet codified into a formulaic like "SUCCES" (you can read the reviews here for the meaning of that acronym).

This audio book did it for me. I deal with colleagues that don't know how to write proposals and with others trying to teach exclusively from text-only PowerPoint charts at 40-60 slides per hour (yuck!). I now come in with a new acronym (SUCCES) and wow them into thinking about what they're trying to do. Sometimes it's to get their audiences to remember what they want. Whether or not our audience remembers who said something often times isn't as important as what they remember was said. If you adhere to the principles found in this book, later your audience may find that they can't seem get your key ideas out of their head. For instance, the example of Steven Jobs on the spur of the moment tossing his appointment planner on the conference table as an example of the size/shape of a conceptual notepad computer when briefing a potential investment firm. That simple idea echoed in the minds of his audience well after his presentation and got him his intended investment.

Note that buyers of this work could have very different expectations. Avoid buyer's remorse by understanding what this book really is. "How sticky ideas are created" is a reasonable subtitle. The framework used here is conceptual; an exhaustive list of detailed how-to examples or processes won't be found here. I believe that reader's experience and imagination is needed to complete the lesson to obtain real value. Those looking for advanced material in this subject area will probably be disappointed. But for those just learning this subject area, there is very good material here.

Now a word on the subject matter delivery: it isn't very consistent in my opinion. That's where the audio book comes in: the CD keeps playing and you get to listen with one ear for those known boring sections. However I periodically found that my 25-minute commute wasn't long enough because I kept punching the rewind button on the CD player. In particular, the last chapter is very meaty--in fact too meaty. I would like more explanation and more examples in this chapter. However, this may be asking a little too much from the authors. Maybe the best examples are the ones that we have personally encountered but didn't know what to do. Do people listen to your ideas and simply walk away? Others argue, but don't agree to carry the ball forward? Still others just don't listen at all? These examples need to be reflectively thought through and new example approaches imagined before you encounter these situations again. This is where the rubber meets the road. Don't trash the book if it doesn't give you the exact answer. Trash your knee jerk reactions instead and think about new tricks using the approach in this book.

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

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I love Cesar!
vague
Cesar Milan- the dog Magician
Cesar's OK
Ground Breaking!

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Cesar Millan
Manufacturer: Harmony
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0307337332
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Amazon.com

Fans of the National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan will be grateful for Cesar's Way, an accessible guide to help new and current dog owners better understand the needs of their beloved pets. If you are not yet a fan, try to catch a couple of episodes of the remarkable show--you will be amazed, impressed, and motivated to create a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with your dog. In Cesar's Way, Cesar explains that dogs are not complicated, and despite what various owners think--not human. They rely on three key elements in their lives: exercise, discipline, and affection (in that order). "Problem dogs" can be attributed to "problem owners," owners who don't understand and misinterpret their dog's behavior. Cesar's Way is really a training program for dog owners, with chapters devoted to understanding the "power of the pack," taking responsibility for "how we screw up our dogs," and learning how to manage aggression. Cesar's book (a must-have for new and old dog owners) moves beyond basic obedience school techniques, and teaches owners how to change unwanted behavior by better understanding their "best friends." --Daphne Durham

Exclusive Video from Cesar Millan

Watch the video

Watch a Clip from the Show

Watch Cesar in action in this clip of The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, courtesy of the National Geographic Channel. Or, tune in on Friday nights, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Cesar Millan's Top 5 Tips for Going to the Dog Park

1. Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered, has all her shots, and is in good health. Under no circumstances should you bring a sick dog to a dog park!

2. Do not use the dog park as a substitute for the walk! If you drive to the park, leave your car a block away and take your dog on a vigorous walk of at least thirty-five minutes to drain some of her energy. Never take an over-excited dog to the park.

3. While at the park, don't "punch out" on your calm-assertive leadership. Be aware of your dog at all times, and take responsibility for her behavior.

4. A calm-submissive dog will not attract another dog's aggression--but an excited dog, a weak, timid dog, or an aggressive dog can become a fight-magnet.

5. Know your dog! If your dog has poor social skills, is overly fearful or is dog aggressive, or if you have not yet established your calm-assertive leadership with your dog, find a more controlled way to introduce her to the company of other dogs, such as "play dates" with one or two other dog owners.

Book Description

“I rehabilitate dogs. I train people.” —Cesar Millan

There are at least 68 million dogs in America, and their owners lavish billions of dollars on them every year. So why do so many pampered pets have problems? In this definitive and accessible guide, Cesar Millan—star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—reveals what dogs truly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

From his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show to his roster of celebrity clients to his reality television series, Cesar Millan is America’s most sought-after dog-behavior expert. But Cesar is not a trainer in the traditional sense—his expertise lies in his unique ability to comprehend dog psychology. Tracing his own amazing journey from a clay-walled farm in Mexico to the celebrity palaces of Los Angeles, Cesar recounts how he learned what makes dogs tick. In Cesar’s Way, he shares this wisdom, laying the groundwork for you to have stronger, more satisfying relationships with your canine companions.

Cesar’s formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behavior, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behavior issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected.

Whether you’re having issues with your dog or just want to make a good bond even stronger, this book will give you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world, and it will help make your relationship with your beloved pet a richer and more rewarding one.

Learn what goes on inside your dog’s mind and develop a positive, fulfilling relationship with your best friend

In Cesar’s Way, Cesar Millan—nationally recognized dog expert and star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviors. You’ll learn:

• What your dog really needs may not be what you’re giving him

• Why a dog’s natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship

• How to relate to your dog on a canine level

• There are no “problem breeds,” just problem owners

• Why every dog needs a job

• How to choose a dog who’s right for you and your family

• The difference between discipline and punishment

• And much more!

Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesar’s longtime clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book you’ll need to forge a new, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.

Also available as a Random House AudioBook

Customer Reviews:

I love Cesar!.......2007-10-04

This book is an easy read. It gives a fair amount of background as to how Cesar Millan got his start as well as the method behind his madness. Anecdotes and straight-forward advice give the reader some general ideas as to how they might curb certain pet behavior issues. You can agree or disagree with Cesar's training methods, but you have to admit the guy genuinely cares about AND has a way with both dogs and people.

vague.......2007-10-02

Though his basic ideas make sense, the book fails in that it never gets around to specifics. For example, Cesar tells you never to let your dog go in the door first. OK, fine...but how? Never let your dog walk ahead of you on the leash. OK, fine...but how? What can you actually do to stop the dog from going ahead of you? If you are like me, and are having problems with a dog that is physically stronger than you are, this book will not be very helpful. After reading this book I still have no idea how I'm supposed to hold back an exuberant and powerful animal so I can walk ahead of her.

Cesar Milan- the dog Magician.......2007-09-26

Cesar Millan, is THE DOG MAGICIAN!! He has a rare, very gifted way of just knowing what is 'inside a dogs head'! Most of us humans do not have this. The book is excellent and will help many of us dog lovers to understand our wee dog friends better and give them a better life!! By Sheena from Scotland.

Cesar's OK.......2007-09-23

I enjoyed Cesar's Way. I have watched all of his TV appearances and have witnessed how dogs can be rehabilitated (as well as how the owners can be trained).

The book picks up where the shows leave off. The book goes into detail on most aspects of dog psychology. He points out the many ways humans differ from dogs. He describes our willingness to give our dogs human attributes. Cesar also shows how treating dogs like people creates emotional imbalance in the dogs that make the dogs less easier to handle. His calm-assertive model he describes is the ideal personality for the pack leader (the owner). This calm-assertive persona is something all dog owners should strive to become in order to control their dogs.

At the beginning of the book Cesar gives the reader insight into his childhood in Mexico. He briefly goes over how and why he entered the United States illegally and how he is on the pathway to citizenship. After watching his series on TV and observing the radical changes he is making with our pets, all of a sudden, his illegal entry into the country is less of an issue.

He makes a cheap shot about Bill O'Reilly describing him as "angry-aggressive" (page 69) when trying to describe the angry-aggressive dog personality. This analogy of Bill O'Reilly detracts from the book. This book should be about dog rehabilitation and not politics.

Ground Breaking!.......2007-09-23

I have watched The Dog Whisperer and became so mesmerized that I decided to read the book. Despite some of the complaints here (quite trite) I found the book absorbing and honest. Knowing more about Cesar himself was really very empowering. Look at what he has done. That should be inspiration in and of itself!

I feel his ground breaking work can be applied to humans as well as animals. Right now I'm applying it to my family of cockatiels who need a stronger pack leader. Though birds are different than dogs they still need boundaries, schedules and a bona fide pack leader. It's working. To bad I can't assign them jobs!

Cesar's Way is a wonderful read that helps one to really get inside a canine's head and understand what makes them tick. Cesar is knowledgeable and has many years of experience under his belt. He knows what he is talking about, and we can see it illustrated on his show.

I am deeply troubled by the behavioral problems that so many domestic dogs have in our country. Applying Cesar's work to these problems will help save and make happy one animal at a time.

Even if you are not in companionship with any animal I think you would find this a very fascinating read. I would love to see a book that married Cesar's concepts with those of the animal communicator's.

Average customer rating:

Life's a Stage...
BORING
Impressive!
Interesting book
Great!

How to Win Friends & Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Think and Grow Rich
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
The Magic of Thinking Big

ASIN: 0671027034

Amazon.com

This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks. --Joan Price

Book Description

YOU CAN GO AFTER THE JOB YOU WANT...AND GET IT! YOU CAN TAKE THE JOB YOU HAVE...AND IMPROVE IT! YOU CAN TAKE ANY SITUATION YOU'RE IN...AND MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!

For more than sixty years the rock-solid, time-tested advice in this book has carried thousands of now famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.

Now this previously revised and updated bestseller is available in trade paperback for the first time to help you achieve your maximum potential throughout the next century! Learn:

* THREE FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUES IN HANDLING PEOPLE

* THE SIX WAYS TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU

* THE TWELVE WAYS TO WIN PEOPLE TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING

* THE NINE WAYS TO CHANGE PEOPLE WITHOUT AROUSING RESENTMENT

Customer Reviews:

Life's a Stage..........2007-09-30

Wow..."A Reader" seems extraordinarily bitter...

Every day you go to work, you are on a "stage"...as in "It's show time, folks!" The working world is highly competitive, and a necessary tool to all but guarantee your success is deception. This book/author teaches the art of deception. Whether or not the reader chooses to use this information to his/her advantage is a matter of personal choice.

This book has a purpose, and successfully presents that purpose, hence the four-stars...

BORING.......2007-09-18

...I put the book down after 3 chapters, and haven't picked it back up since. Go with "7 Habits..." by Covey and/or "The Four Agreements" (Author skips my mind)

Impressive!.......2007-09-09

I finally can win many friends and influence people! Another bestseller that I recommend - How to be a Super Hot Woman: 339 Tips to Make Every Man Fall in Love with You and Every Woman Envy You

Interesting book.......2007-09-09

We dont realize that many people want the same things that we do.I purchased this book to become more social. I have learned more than I expected.

Great!.......2007-09-09

Timeless advice and a charismatic delivery make this book enjoyable and likely to be acted on and revisited throughout your life. It will open your eyes wider, and give affirmation to mankind. Some reviews are all rah-rah, but I find the book is at times gleefully manipulative and uses only the best examples of its principles in action -- there's no guarantee you will make that sale, or that person will become your friend -- but it is worthwhile information and certainly is inspiring. It's definitely worth the price, and if you order through Amazon, it was a five star shipment for me.

Average customer rating:

Gregg Manual
Not For Beginners...
Great General Reference for Writers and Editors
A "Must Have" office tool
DOE Office Managers

The Gregg Reference Manual
William A. Sabin
Manufacturer: Career Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

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Similar Items:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition
Gregg Reference Manual, Comprehensive Worksheets
The Chicago Manual of Style
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (Book Only)
Comprehensive Worksheets on Style, Grammar, Usage, and Formatting to accompany the Gregg Reference Manual, Tenth Edition

ASIN: 0072936533

Book Description

Updated to include new communication technology and its unique issues

For more than 50 years, The Gregg Reference Manual has been recognized as the best style manual for business professionals and students. The basic rules that apply to the most frequent problems are covered as thoroughly as the fine points of the problems that occur less often. The colorful examples and illustrations offer easy-to-follow models to help resolve the difficulties encountered in everyday communications from e-mail messages to formal reports. New features include:

Up-to-date coverage on dealing with online source material and precautions to observe when citing electronic material
New searchable index: the website accompanying the book allows the reader immediate access to definitions and information on specific topics
Updated e-mail rules and expanded plagiarism coverage to meet the needs of changing technology

Customer Reviews:

Gregg Manual.......2007-07-25

The Gregg Manual is outstanding and any office worker - whether secretary or the boss, needs it to be sure that letters and documents are perfect. It's a little pricey but worth every penny.

Not For Beginners..........2007-06-12

This book is not really geared for the beginner; it is for those who have a decent/modest/working command of the English writing/language with a basic understanding of sentence structure but need tweaking here and there to help perfect their skill. It covers EVERYTHING from punctuation, tense and subject agreement, spelling, word use--everything that goes into writing. The book is very busy in that it is LOADED--it covers everything you need to write properly/correctly. The book's section-numbering-system might be a bit of a tickle, but give it a scratch and you'll be on your way. The numbering system helps you locate/move from one area of grammatical treatment to another quickly; it allows this full coverage monograph to be printed into a portable size book. There are no "filler text", no speeches, no stories, no editoralizing--just concise writings on proper writing. It also provides clear examples, valuable notations, and alternative sentence formations. You WILL get your $ worth! (I didn't have time to check the book for this review, so mistakes are mine. ;>)

Great General Reference for Writers and Editors.......2007-05-09

I am a medical editor so my Bible is the AMA guide, but I needed a more general reference for my regular grammar/English queries. A co-editor who has been relying on and loving his Gregg Manual for years recommended it to me. His recommendation proved most helpful because so far, this book is great. I have yet to have a grammar question the Gregg Manual couldn't answer. It's great for editors and writers regardless of industry, and would be helpful for students as well.

A "Must Have" office tool.......2007-03-30

It is a great tool for a professional looking document or letter.

DOE Office Managers.......2007-03-19

This guide is used by DOE Office Managers in our daily work. Great Reference!

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

Average customer rating:

Great Book to Read
Good, but not critical enough and scores high on the buzzword-meter
An interesting read.
The community is the company
Required reading for Strategic Thinkers

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Don Tapscott , and Anthony D. Williams
Manufacturer: Portfolio Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations
The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Open Business Models: How to Thrive in the New Innovation Landscape
The Wisdom of Crowds

ASIN: 1591841380

Book Description

In just the last few years, traditional collaboration—in a meeting room, a conference call, even a convention center—has been superseded by collaborations on an astronomical scale.

Today, encyclopedias, jetliners, operating systems, mutual funds, and many other items are being created by teams numbering in the thousands or even millions. While some leaders fear the heaving growth of these massive online communities, Wikinomics proves this fear is folly. Smart firms can harness collective capability and genius to spur innovation, growth, and success.

A brilliant guide to one of the most profound changes of our time, Wikinomics challenges our most deeply-rooted assumptions about business and will prove indispensable to anyone who wants to understand competitiveness in the twenty-first century.

Based on a $9 million research project led by bestselling author Don Tapscott, Wikinomics shows how masses of people can participate in the economy like never before. They are creating TV news stories, sequencing the human genome, remixing their favorite music, designing software, finding a cure for disease, editing school texts, inventing new cosmetics, or even building motorcycles. You'll read about:
• Rob McEwen, the Goldcorp, Inc. CEO who used open source tactics and an online competition to save his company and breathe new life into an old-fashioned industry.
• Flickr, Second Life, YouTube, and other thriving online communities that transcend social networking to pioneer a new form of collaborative production.
• Mature companies like Procter & Gamble that cultivate nimble, trust-based relationships with external collaborators to form vibrant business ecosystems.

An important look into the future, Wikinomics will be your road map for doing business in the twenty-first century.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book to Read.......2007-10-02

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

As I refresh my professional career for the second decade of the 21st Century, I decided ro read this book, and I was not wrong. This is a most read book for everyone that's looking to stay relevant in the digital economy and the disrupting collaboration paradign. I highly recommeded.

Good, but not critical enough and scores high on the buzzword-meter.......2007-09-12

The book gives a quick tour of the new collaborative ways in which people aggregate and process information. It points out that collaboration can also be applied to produce new 'stuff', outside of software and even applying to manufacturing. It makes for interesting reading for people who a) know something about open source and want to know about its business implications and b) managers who don't know about open source/collaboration but would like to.

It is, imho, less interesting for those who want in-depth answers to the real thorny _business_ problems around open-source. I.e. How to make money at it, if you want to. It hints at important questions such as rewarding the community at large, not losing the family jewels as you open up, etc. Unfortunately, it never quite gets down to specific recommendations beyond "you have to find the right mix of proprietary vs. open source IP".

Not to criticize it overmuch. Wikinomics often jars your thinking with insightful nuggets. For example, it cites Goldcorp as the example of a mining company which opened up its secret prospection data to outsiders. Wikinomics, probably rightly, uses that as a counter-intuitive example of enlisting external help for a type of company that never shares that kind of data. Hmmm, why not share? If the prospection data applies to land on which only your company can operate, isn't that a pretty safe gamble? I don't know, really, but the point is that the anecdote makes you think of things differently. Same with IBM's success at getting a new OS (Linux)almost for free, while gathering goodwill from the community and genuinely collaborating. How far Big Blue's embarrassing anti-trust proceedings seem now...

Less helpful is Wikinomics' recurring use of cherry-picked anecdotes by sector, rather than a broad analysis of various businesses. First of all, it rarely compares its chosen 'smart companies' to their competitors. Yes, BMW is opening up. Does that make their cars any better? How is their stock doing? vs. Toyota? How is their reliability? How innovative are their cars?

Red Hat is a huge success story in Linux, but its dominance also highlights the relative failure of other Linux vendors. No explanation is given for that - network effects? first mover?

I would have welcomed some case studies of failures for big corporations in opening up. What caused those failures? What can be learned from them?

Google is also cited as a big example of openness. That is only partially true and could have served to highlight the necessary(?) split between proprietary information and public openness. Google opens up its APIs and the search is certainly free. I am a big fan myself. However, they have not chosen to release much code back to the community (cf. MapReduce) , mostly by sidestepping the GPL because they don't distribute their software. Their choice, and probably motivated by good business logic. Apple also walks a fine line between leveraging open source and keeping its business very much a secret.

This is just the kind of case studies Wikinomics could sink its teeth into, but it spends way too much time gushing over all the boundless possibilities of collaboration.

Conclusion: a good eye-opener but take it with a grain of salt. Note that my perspective is that of a developer interested in open source _and_ business profits.

An interesting read........2007-09-04

I liked this book, and it opened my eyes to many other "community-driven" technologies/companies. While I thought a lot of the ideas were very "common sense", it was well written, and had some great anecdotes. I recommend this book for anyone interested in social networking, building communities, etc.

The community is the company.......2007-09-02

Wikinomics is about opening your company to the world where communities come together, individuals share ideas, intelligence, peer produce, innovate; the communities are driven primarily by self-motivation or respect from peers. The idea is awesome; the authors are right that this is a new era; some of the most successful companies in the world use wikinomics; the most successful Internet companies are based upon it. The companies cost is dramatically cut, they become trustworthy, and individuals create what they want.

But the book is almost irritating to read. They paint a world where wikinomics is practically perfect, where the communities created by the company are utopian, and the companies who refuse the wikinomic ideology as evil. According to the authors, the companies that don't jump on the bandwagon will ultimately fail because they can't compete with speed and innovation that wikinomic companies can produce (compare wikipedia with any encyclopedia).

The reality is the communities created are often not egalitarian. Digg is a good example -- the community is driven by a faction of a top 100 users who control the front page content, any article or comment outside the digg mindset is quickly buried, and websites have been created where you can pay to get dugg.

In addition, the book ignores wikinomic companies who have failed completely or to a large extent (amapedia, a million penguins, la times wiki editorial, the thousands of 2.0 clones) and they give the reader no idea how to start a successful web 2.0 company. The book is also too long and each chapter adds little to the last. The entire book is read in the first chapter.

While I feel companies opening up to the world is an awesome concept and many of the ideas in the book are right, I would have preferred a more balanced book which makes this book unsatisfying. In the end, I still question whether wikinomics is just a bubble going to burst.

Required reading for Strategic Thinkers.......2007-08-29

In this interesting and example filled book, Authors Tapscott & Williams explore how convergence of the New Web (technology) and the Net Generation (demographics) have reduced transaction costs within the knowledge economy (or the knowledge element of the industrial economy) to create or allow for mass collaboration. Citing four (4) principles underlying this mass collaboration - openness, peering, sharing, and acting globally - they identify seven (7) trends that are transforming existing business models and challenging leaders to create entirely new business models.
1. Peer Production - building intellectual property bit by bit thru open source
2. Ideagoras - buying and selling solutions to problems / research
3. Prosumers - new product design by consumers/users (think hackers)
4. New Alexandrians - sharing science / thinking on a massive scale
5. Platforms for participation - global stage for partnering to create value and build new businesses
6. Global plant floors - transport technology across borders/organizations for local fab labs
7. Wiki workplaces - really workspaces, where playgrounds replace more traditional business processes
While one may argue with the distinctions between these seven, somewhat overlapping trends, the authors provide ample examples to stimulate thinking and help the reader see how this new world might be integrated into current business models or force us to create new ones. This book is recommended as required reading for anyone responsible for strategic thinking - for themselves or for their business.

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss what Matters Most

Average customer rating:

Will you ever have a hard conversation? Sure, you will! Read this book first.
Difficult converations
great read
Best Book on Communication
Quality of Life Must Read

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss what Matters Most
Douglas Stone , Bruce Patton , Sheila Heen , and Roger Fisher
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Conflict Management | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Communication | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
Getting Past No
Crucial Confrontations
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Sucess at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time

ASIN: 014028852X
Release Date: 2000-04-03

Amazon.com

We've all been there: We know we must confront a coworker, store clerk, or friend about some especially sticky situation--and we know the encounter will be uncomfortable. So we repeatedly mull it over until we can no longer put it off, and then finally stumble through the confrontation. Difficult Conversations, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen, offers advice for handling these unpleasant exchanges in a manner that accomplishes their objective and diminishes the possibility that anyone will be needlessly hurt. The authors, associated with Harvard Law School and the Harvard Project on Negotiation, show how such dialogues actually comprise three separate components: the "what happened" conversation (verbalizing what we believe really was said and done), the "feelings" conversation (communicating and acknowledging each party's emotional impact), and the "identity" conversation (expressing the situation's underlying personal meaning). The explanations and suggested improvements are, admittedly, somewhat complicated. And they certainly don't guarantee positive results. But if you honestly are interested in elevating your communication skills, this book will walk you through both mistakes and remedies in a way that will boost your confidence when such unavoidable clashes arise. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

Members of the Harvard Negotiation Project--which brought you the mega-bestseller Getting to YES--show you how to handle your most difficult conversations with confidence and skill.

Whether you're dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with your spouse about money or child-rearing, negotiating with a difficult client, or simply saying "no," or "I'm sorry," or "I love you," we attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day. Based on fifteen years of research at the Harvard Negotiation Project, Difficult Conversations walks you through a step-by-step proven approach to having your toughest conversations with less stress and more success. You will learn:
how to start the conversation without defensiveness
why what is not said is as important as what is
ways of keeping and regaining your balance in the face of attacks and accusations
how to decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation

Filled with examples from everyday life, Difficult Conversations will help you on the job, at home, or out in the world. It is a book you will turn to again and again for advice, practical skills, and reassurance.

"Does this book deliver on [its] promise of an effective way through sticky situations, whether 'with your baby sitter or your biggest client'? It does."-- The New York Times

"These talented communicators blend a daunting array of disciplines into highly readable and practical advice."-- Booklist

"Brilliant. . . . I've already re-read most of it. I'm using it. What more could a reader ask?"-- Tom Peters

"Emotional Intelligence applied to life's tough moments."-- Daniel Goleman

Download Description

"What is a difficult conversation? Asking for a raise. Ending a relationship. Saying ""no"" to your boss or spouse. Confronting disrespectful behavior. Apologizing. Conversations we dread, and often handle clumsily as a result, are part of all our lives: in boardrooms and family rooms, across the negotiation table and the dinner table. Now, Difficult Conversations teaches us how to handle these dialogues with more success and less anxiety. How does it work? Based on fifteen years of research and consultations with thousands of people, Difficult Conversations pinpoints what works. The authors discovered that regardless of context, the same small but crucial errors are what trip us up--and a few key adjustments can make all the difference. * The role of emotions--ours and theirs * The impact of what is said and what is not said * Why admitting our mistakes will put us in a stronger position * The truth behind the myth that women are better at expressing their emotions than men * How to respond productively in the face of personal attacks Who is this for? Filled with examples from everyday life, Difficult Conversations is certain to be an instant and lasting classic for families, neighbors, bosses, employees, customers, tenants, landlords, psychologists, teachers, and more. Who are the authors? Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen teach at Harvard Law School and at the Harvard Negotiation Project. They have consulted to countless businesspeople, governments, organizations, and communities including all parties to the negotiations on constitutional transition in South Africa; school teachers in Medellin, Colombia; and community leaders and the police department in Springfield, Massachusetts. They lecture throughout the world and have written on negotiation, conflict resolution, and communication. Bruce Patton is co-author of Getting to Yes."

Customer Reviews:

Will you ever have a hard conversation? Sure, you will! Read this book first........2007-09-21

This little book can be a great help. We all have avoided conversations we knew were going to be difficult. Often not talking made things worse, so as things became intolerable we had the discussion and things got even worse. These authors break down the inner structure of difficult conversations and how we often mishandle them. They then show us the ways in which we can turn this into a constructive process that brings more understanding, greater cooperation, and learning that will help avoid repeating the difficulties in the future.

Certainly, I can't recap the whole book in this little review, but I especially like their concept of three conversations happening within each difficult conversation. They are the debate over what happened, the feelings conversation, and the identity issues. In the what happened conversation the problem is that each side assumes it knows the truth, that they know the other party's intentions, and that they know where and how to assign blame. Of course, all this is a fiction and a waste of time. It does nothing to fix the situation or improve the process to avoid the problem in the future. The book then shows you how to have a constructive approach to the same problem. Excellent stuff!

The authors are part of the Harvard Negotiation Project and has a foreword by one of the authors of the famous book, "Getting to Yes". The book is concise, but full of very good information. I recommend it very much.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson - Ann Arbor, MI

Difficult converations.......2007-09-17

this book is well worth the read,
it is easy to get throught, and does not repeat itself.
You want to read the whole book.
nancy carlson

great read.......2007-08-27

This book is used as a textbook at the Harvard MBA. Good tool for those messy conflicts

Best Book on Communication.......2007-08-24

This is the most useful and comprehensive compendium of effective, research validated, communication concepts I have ever seen in one book. Useful for anyone who speaks with other humans, especially significant others, business colleagues and teenagers. If you are a coach, this reading is required. Difficult ideas presented in a way that makes them easy to understand and easy to apply.

Quality of Life Must Read.......2007-08-04

Difficult Conversations, by Stone, Patton, and Heen, is a foundational book in the literature of holding difficult conversations in purposeful ways. I have read it often and use its principles in my teaching and in daily life. Underlying its principles is the simple understanding that we can get better at listening, talking, and acknowledging what is actually going on in our relationships; that we create the reality of our lives by the ways in which we talk about it; and that one conversation at a time, we can choose to work with the energy of conflict instead of avoiding it. There are many good books on this topic. I suggest reading them all, starting here.

Judy Ringer is the author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict

Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire (Bpg-Other)

Average customer rating:

Clear guide for creating effective presentations
I've used this method and it works
Don't understand what others see in it
Better Presentations
a very, very helpful book on creating effective presentations

Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire (Bpg-Other)
Cliff Atkinson
Manufacturer: Microsoft Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story
PowerPointAdvanced Presentation Techniques
In the Line of Fire: How to Handle Tough Questions...When It Counts
Never Be Boring Again: Make Your Business Presentations Capture Attention, Inspire Action and Produce Results
How to Do Everything with Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 (How to Do Everything)

ASIN: 0735620520

Book Description

Improve your presentationsand increase your impactwith 50 powerful, practical, and easy-to-apply techniques for Microsoft PowerPoint. With Beyond Bullet Points, youll take your presentation skills to the next levellearning innovative ways to design and deliver your message. Organized into five sectionsDistill Your Ideas, Structure Your Story, Visualize Your Message, Create a Conversation, and Maintain Engagementthe book uses clear, concise language and just the right visuals to help you understand concepts and start getting better results. Not just a how-to for PowerPoint, this book will help take your presentation skills to the next level! Features 50 innovative, easy-to-apply techniques to help you clarify, visualize, and present your ideas using PowerPoint. Author is a leading presentation-skills consultant. Targeted for intermediate to advanced level users of PowerPoint who are looking to stand out from the crowd and make sure people remember what they say.

Customer Reviews:

Clear guide for creating effective presentations .......2007-08-24

Microsoft PowerPoint changed the world of presentations by simplifying the process of creating a computerized slide show. Alas, over time people started squeezing too much information into every slide and using the preinstalled generic titles. PowerPoint's simplicity let people forget the purpose of presentations: to persuade or to inform without being boring. Cliff Atkinson shows you a creative way to build a good presentation without falling into the PowerPoint template trap - tell a story instead. At present, he provides a free template, storyboard formatter and story guide at sociablemedia.com that adds value to the book, which refers to these resources repeatedly. We recommend this to anyone who gives presentations.

I've used this method and it works.......2007-07-25

I borrowed it from the library and I am going to purchase it for my personal business library. I think that this is a great resource book. I decided to try this method since I do a presentation about once a month to pharmacists. This book helped me to organize my thoughts and present the material in a logical manner. I am in the health care industry and the people I present to are used to seeing bullet points BUT they are bored with it. For those that think the information here won't work, I say give it a try before dismissing it. You may find that your audience doesn't want as many bullet points and facts as you think and that you are a breath of fresh air in doing something new and innovative with your presentations. And remember you can put all of that information from your bullet points in the notes pages and print that out for them.

Don't understand what others see in it.......2007-07-07

I was disappointed having bought this book based on good reviews, so here's my review:

1. The author provides just one tool for one particular type of presentation: "pitch an idea to your bosses". The tool is a 3-act presentation using few words and more graphics and presenter narration.
Although a good tool for some presenters and some presentations, I can only see myself using this in 10-20% of my presentations.

2. Because the author refuses to explore other methods, the book becomes very repetitive and too detailed going on about the same points all the time.

3. Because of this, this is certainly not a book to keep for reference.

4. ...unless you are a total PowerPoint novice and computer-illiterate and want to read a step-by-step instructions about how to resize and crop images in PowerPoint, etc.

5. This is the first book by Microsoft Press I read and I was shocked at the obvious attempts throughout the book to advertise other marginally-related Microsoft products.

The book description says: "Targeted for intermediate to advanced level users". I would never recommend this book to anyone but absolute beginners and even then there must be better books.
The intermediate user should really just browse the first couple of chapters to get the basic idea (1. set the scene 2. show the conflict 3. resolve the conflict) in a bookstore and then decide for himself if he really wants to waste money on something which can easily be summarized on one page.

Better Presentations.......2007-07-05

I've been doing presentations since the BP (before Powerpoint) era and I have a structure that I've used since the beginning. This book caused me to rethink my approach, and, after using it on several recent presentations, I have to say it is a change for the better. Highly recommended if quality communications is your goal.

a very, very helpful book on creating effective presentations.......2007-07-03

While I didn't adopt the 3 > 3 approach Atkinson suggests, I really took to heart his idea of replacing wordy, boring slides with those with only a title (a concept, expressed as a sentence) and high-impact relevant graphics. As a result, I created a six-hour workshop (on personal productivity) that contained a total of five bullets (out of 130 slides). I also created - from the same slide show - a prose booklet that participants take home. Very useful.

More at: What a difference a framework can make
http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2007/04/what-difference-framework-can-make.html

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