Book Description
Giants. We must face them. Yet, we need not face them alone.
This profound look at the life of David digs deeply into the defeats he suffered, and the victories he won, as he faced the giants in his life. When David focused on God, giants tumbled. But when David focused on giants…
he stumbled.
Goliaths still roam in our world. Debt. Disaster. Dialysis. Divorce. Deceit. Disease. Depression. These super-sized challenges swagger and strut into our lives, pilfering our sleep, embezzling our peace and robbing us of our joy. And while these giants try to dominate our lives, we know what to do! We've learned what David learned, and we do what David did. We become God focused. We pick up five stones. We make five decisions. And we take a swing.
Customer Reviews:
Overcoming circumstances.......2007-09-29
I was given this book, it was a good read, but the information wasn't anything new, nor was it very impressive. It was a smooth reader, but almost to the point of beating a dead horse. Now, I am not putting down the work of the Cross or Jesus or the Holy Spirit or even King David. It's just the same ole story with a different author. I did find some of Max's antedotes and case histories of his own family interesting and the view of the Rainbow, that was most interesting.
Would I buy the book, no. Would I recommend someone else to buy the book? Not really. There are better books for the money.
Here are some examples: They Smell Like Sheep by Dr. Lynn Anderson
True Discipleship by Kossler, The Holiest of All by Andrew Murray, Power Filled Living by R.A. Torrey. These are just a few.
I've found when we are facing the giants, if we focus on God, Center ourself on Him, in Him and then look outside the box, so-to-speak and allow the Spirit of God to lead us to someone else that is hurting more than ourselves, God will work out our problems usually by the interaction of our neighbors.
In Christ we pray. Amen.
Learning from David's Triumphs and Mistakes.......2007-09-21
Max Lucado is known for his encouraging books, and this book is no exception. Here, he studies King David, both the good and the bad, to show us how to face the giants in our lives.
The ultimate lesson is simple, when your focus is on God, giants fall. Yet he uses stories from first and second Samuel, both the good and the bad, to show us how this played out in David's life.
The book works as a biography, showing us the events in David's life as they happened. While most chapters are a self contained lesson, it does allow us to see how one event often led to another.
Obviously, we see David fighting Goliath. But we also see him hiding from Saul, his friendship with Jonathan, hiding with the enemy, keeping his promises, falling into adultery and murder with Bathsheba, and watching his own children spin out of control. From this we learn the importance of friends and family, but ultimately the importance of putting our focus on God.
Max Lucado very rarely brings anything new to the table. That's certainly the case here. There is very little I haven't heard before. But he always puts such a fresh, encouraging spin on things, I always see things in a new light. And even when admonishing us, he still does it gently.
I set this book down reluctantly when I finished. My heart was encouraged, and my focus was where it needed to be, God. If you need some help remembering where your focus needs to be, this book is for you.
Max's Best .......2007-09-17
This is absolutely the most enlightening and funny book I've ever read from a Christian author.
This wonderful book is deep enough for an elephant to swim in, yet shallow enough for a child to wade in.
That describes Facing Your Giants to a T.
Like all Lucado books, awesome.......2007-09-06
An insightful tie to old testament events around Davids life and life for us today.
Wonderful book!.......2007-08-26
Story of King David's successes and failures confronting the giants in his life, and how we can learn from them. Many challenging question in study guide at the end of book.
Average customer rating:
- the way the world was eaten
- Incredible Alternate History Story!
- Great Book - Serious Topic
- "World War Z"
- How Did I Miss This
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World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Max Brooks
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ASIN: 0307346609
Release Date: 2006-09-12 |
Book Description
“The end was near.” —Voices from the Zombie War
The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.
Ranging from the now infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the twelve-year-old Patient Zero, to the unnamed northern forests where untold numbers sought a terrible and temporary refuge in the cold, to the United States of Southern Africa, where the Redeker Plan provided hope for humanity at an unspeakable price, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt where the North American tide finally started to turn, this invaluable chronicle reflects the full scope and duration of the Zombie War.
Most of all, the book captures with haunting immediacy the human dimension of this epochal event. Facing the often raw and vivid nature of these personal accounts requires a degree of courage on the part of the reader, but the effort is invaluable because, as Mr. Brooks says in his introduction, “By excluding the human factor, aren’t we risking the kind of personal detachment from history that may, heaven forbid, lead us one day to repeat it? And in the end, isn’t the human factor the only true difference between us and the enemy we now refer to as ‘the living dead’?”
Note: Some of the numerical and factual material contained in this edition was previously published under the auspices of the United Nations Postwar Commission.
Eyewitness reports from the first truly global war
“I found ‘Patient Zero’ behind the locked door of an abandoned apartment across town. . . . His wrists and feet were bound with plastic packing twine. Although he’d rubbed off the skin around his bonds, there was no blood. There was also no blood on his other wounds. . . . He was writhing like an animal; a gag muffled his growls. At first the villagers tried to hold me back. They warned me not to touch him, that he was ‘cursed.’ I shrugged them off and reached for my mask and gloves. The boy’s skin was . . . cold and gray . . . I could find neither his heartbeat nor his pulse.” —Dr. Kwang Jingshu, Greater Chongqing, United Federation of China
“‘Shock and Awe’? Perfect name. . . . But what if the enemy can’t be shocked and awed? Not just won’t, but biologically can’t! That’s what happened that day outside New York City, that’s the failure that almost lost us the whole damn war. The fact that we couldn’t shock and awe Zack boomeranged right back in our faces and actually allowed Zack to shock and awe us! They’re not afraid! No matter what we do, no matter how many we kill, they will never, ever be afraid!” —Todd Wainio, former U.S. Army infantryman and veteran of the Battle of Yonkers
“Two hundred million zombies. Who can even visualize that type of number, let alone combat it? . . . For the first time in history, we faced an enemy that was actively waging total war. They had no limits of endurance. They would never negotiate, never surrender. They would fight until the very end because, unlike us, every single one of them, every second of every day, was devoted to consuming all life on Earth.” —General Travis D’Ambrosia, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Customer Reviews:
the way the world was eaten.......2007-10-02
Brad Pitt's production company has bought the rights to this book but how he plans on doing the individual stories justice I don't know. This book impressed the hell outta me. It was so well done in the mock-u-mentary style that it had me planning on boarding up the windows if I ever saw someone even slightly limping thru my yard! It had great ideas if you have your zombie survival kit ready and at hand just waiting for the zed's to rise.
Incredible Alternate History Story! .......2007-10-01
I must begin this review by saying, I had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up!! It was recommeded to me by a friend, that knew I'm a sucker for a good zombie story! The subtitle of this book is "An Oral History of the Zombie War". And that's exactly the way it's written. A few years after the Zombie World War, a UN postwar Commission Report was written. The author (unnamed) was upset because the report he submitted was not the report that was presented. All the "human" element was removed. This book is a compilation of that human factor. Divided into sections detailing different aspects of the war, the author gives us a look at what happened through interviews with survivors. We learn a little about the initial outbreak of the Zombie epidemic that started in China and spread rapidly worldwide. We hear horror stories from survivors of the "great panic", and what each had to do in order to be telling the tale today. We learn about different countries and how they chose to turn the tide of the war. And we learn about heroes worldwide and how they stepped up to help their fellow man survive an attack like the world has never seen.
It's hard to review this book, because there are no central characters, no plot lines, no big finishes. It is written as if it is a documentary, detailing events and people all the way down to little footnotes of "historical" fact. And it is indeed chilling. Early on, I had expected this to be a funny book, taking a stab at the paranormal genre. What else would you expect from the son of Mel Brooks, but something of a parody?? World War Z isn't like that at all. It is a well-thought-out and carefully plotted book, that goes into such detail, it's hard to believe World War Z is just fiction!! Each little "interview" tells it's own little story, and Brooks ties them up nicely in his presentation. Not too much drama, but just the facts. Brooks also throws in a lot of political references in how he perceives the world would change if such a catastrophe occurred. Can you imagine a world in which Cuba is the new commerce capital? And yet, he does it so smoothly and believably, it's really hard to see it as fiction! Kudos to Brooks for such a unique and down-right fascinating book!! If there ever IS a Zombie epidemic, I know who's doorstep I'm going to show up on!! Max Brooks can lead us to Victory!!
Great Book - Serious Topic.......2007-09-27
For those of you thinking this will be a tongue in cheek ironic laugh of a book, let me tell you that this is not the case. It is writen in a serious, insightful and journalistic style, perfect for the topic. He has great ideas about how all this might take place, and there are some truly moving parts of this book, as well as the horrible and violent. Do you like end of the world scenarios? Grab this book!
"World War Z".......2007-09-27
The road to zombies is, evidently, a more slippery slope than I'd realized. Recently, I was in a Hamilton-Gibson ten-minute piece in which I played a dead person. The character opposite me was a bloody dead guy. At the opening night party, several of us got to laughing about how there just aren't enough plays where an actor gets to be a bloody dead guy. How we need some quality theater written about zombies. Imagine the witty dialogue-- Zombie #1: Mmmnnnggghhh! Zombie #2: Gnnrrrrrrr! There's some quality literature! Ha ha ha ha ha ....
Who knew how soon I would have to eat those sarcastic words (better than eating flesh, giggle-snort). On September 6, Max Brooks published his novel World War Z. "Z" in this case, is short for "Zombie". I started reading it soon after, thinking it'd be funny. I mean, zombie movies are mostly pretty cheesy, right?
I've never seen Romero's "Night of the Living Dead", or any of the films that followed. Certainly, I've read my share of Stephen King, and watched my share of slasher flicks. As a teen, I have to being somewhat scared by Freddie Kruger. But I was never a Goth girl, never into Anne Rice, and only watched "Resident Evil" because my boyfriend at the time had played the video game and wanted to see the film.
I picked up this novel because I thought it ironic to have just been joking about "zombie literature", and because I like survival stories. There are two post-apocalyptic, society-is-utterly-changed-by-sudden-catastrophe books that moved me and stayed with me over time. One is Stephen King's novel, The Stand (and for goodness' sake, read the book; don't see the mediocre movie!). The other was Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka's War Day. Both amazing stories came from sources I'd not expected. Third time's a charm, I guess.
World War Z surprised me. The writing grabbed me, and not the cheesy way a ghoulish hand from under the bed grabs the stupid heroine in a horror movie. I found the structure of the novel intriguing: Brooks shares the story of World War Z by "interviewing" the survivors ten years after "the Crisis" has passed. The interviewees are people who were, at the time, doctors, children, government officials, military grunts, cyberpunks, pilots, gardeners at fancy international resorts. They are Americans, Chinese, Russian, Mexican, Korean, British, French, Australian. While this style of storytelling is not completely original, it is compelling. I stopped chortling about reading about zombies (of all things! not serious literature, of course!), and started hearing what Max Brooks understands about humanity - as a whole, and as individuals.
I thought he had some profound insights about resilience and depravity, about the bald cruelty of survival tactics and the ridiculous amount of luxury we think of as necessity. Most of all, as someone who has fought my own version of life-or-death demons, I really agreed with what Brooks says about hope. Pick the book up yourself, and see if you don't find it hard to put down. Max Brooks may be a bit odd - he is the son of Mel Brooks, the director of many tongue-in-cheek films - but the writing here hits many issues right on the head. That's the only way to kill the undead, or the critics, if you can tell them apart.
How Did I Miss This.......2007-09-20
The only thing I don't understand is how I missed this. I would think I would remember this happening, but I guess I must have been in college or something. Anyway, it's pretty good reporting - it's obvious that Brooks did a ton of research, and he interviewed a pretty impressive number of people. Their stories are amazing. I can't believe I missed a global catastrophy like this. Did this happen before I was born? Why don't they teach about this in highschool? Is it some kind of government suppression? I just hope it never happens again.
Book Description
The
Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you need to know, including how to understand zombie physiology and behavior, the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, ways to outfit your home for a long siege, and how to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.
Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack
1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.
Don’t be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset—life. This book is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now without your even knowing it. The Zombie Survival Guide offers complete protection through trusted, proven tips for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones against the living dead. It is a book that can save your life.
Customer Reviews:
Well, now I'm prepared!.......2007-09-24
I bought this book after flipping through it a little, mainly for the humor value. I didn't think it would consist of much more than that. How wrong I was. I started reading it, and ended up reading the whole book cover to cover. The way the author presents everything, it really makes you believe that a zombie outbreak could happen at any time. The subject is treated as seriously as any other survival manual would be (which actually adds to the humor). So many great tips are offered, such as what types of buildings make the best strongholds, what weapons are best (and worst), and what types of environment offers the best protection. The "real life accounts" section adds to the realism of the book, and is actually quite creepy in some places. After reading this manual, you will have all the knowledge you will need to get yourself prepared for a zombie outbreak.
Zombies cool down.......2007-09-21
I'm nuts about Zombies and suggest that anyone who can't get enough of these books should read World War Z and The Zen of Zombie. You won't be disappointed.
Very good........2007-09-14
This Zombie Survival guide is fun to read and is very entertaining. It explains how to survive a zombie outbreak, how to fortify your home, what kind of weapons to use, and a lot more! I highly recommend this book. It's good for zombie lovers, and those who'd like to get a thrill. Buy this book- it's good.
Interesting Read.......2007-09-07
I would highly recommend this "survival guide" for the like minded individuals. It will truly expand your imagination.
Cool Coffee Table Book.......2007-09-06
Cool book for your coffee table. Book is written very seriously though. If you are into zombie movies, the author has had alot of time to think out every zombie tatic to help you survive. Don't take it to seriously though.
Book Description
My name is Tucker Max, and I am an asshole. I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregard social norms, indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging dickhead. But, I do contribute to humanity in one very important way: I share my adventures with the world. —from the Introduction Actual reader feedback:
"I am completely baffled as to how you can congratulate yourself for being a womanizer and a raging drunk, or think anyone cares about an idiot like you. Do you really think that exploiting the insecurities of others while getting wasted is a legitimate thing to offer?"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you—for sharing with us your wonderful tales of drunken revelry, for teaching me what it means to be a man, for just existing so I know that there is another option; I too can say `screw the system' and be myself and have fun. My life truly began when I finished reading your stories. Now, when faced with a quandary about what course of action I should take, I just ask myself, `What Would Tucker Do?'—and I do it, and I am a better man for it."
"I find it truly appalling that there are people in the world like you. You are a disgusting, vile, repulsive, repugnant, foul creature. Because of you, I don't believe in God anymore. No just God would allow someone like you to exist."
"I'll stay with God as my lord, but you are my savior. I just finished reading your brilliant stories, and I laughed so hard I almost vomited. I want to bring that kind of joy to people. You're an artist of the highest order and a true humanitarian to boot. I'm in both shock and awe at how much I want to be you."
"You are the coolest person I can even imagine existing. If you slept with my girlfriend, it'd make me love her more."
Customer Reviews:
No Socially Redeeming Qualities Except He's Funny.......2007-10-03
Tucker Max, the author, is a narcissistic, alcoholic, egomaniacal, sexist pig with the morals of an alley cat in heat, but he has one redeeming quality. He is funny! This book is the story of his adventures, and while the conduct is contemptible, he has a gift with words and phrases, which make what he writes humorous. In addition, it is his frat boy antics that land him in many of the situations that are so funny.
Karma will one day land in Tucker Max's lap and cause him unmerciful grief. Until that day happens, however, he will continue to be a pig and will continue to write about it. If you're female, and think you don't want to read this because he is so bad, think again. It's a great lesson in how some males behave!
In retrospect, not that great.......2007-10-01
I bought this when it first came out and I enjoyed it at the time. While I had read most of the stories off the website, the new ones were kind of interesting insofar I wanted to see what Tucker Max would add to his collection of debauchery and drunkenness.
After reading it again lately, I realized that it'll be a forgettable piece of pop literature within about two years. The stories are fine but pretty rinse and repeat. There are only so many ways you can throw up, have sex with women, and insult people before it gets tired. The writing itself is nothing special and once the content gets thin the book falls apart. [...].
While it might make the best seller list, IHTSBIN will be forgotten quickly once anyone with even a slightly better writing style comes along. Unique? Maybe. Groundbreaking and important? Not at all.
HILARIOUS.......2007-09-28
This book is very funny. The key is to not take it too seriously or you might think it is vulgar and rude. Overall a hilarious take on drinking and sex. Perfect for a night of reading and drinking a beer or two!
Lost your balls? get them back here........2007-09-27
So i was a little skeptical about how entertaining it would be to read the drunken (mis)adventures of Tucker Max, Duke Law Student. I read this book faster than I've ever read a book before and boy was it entertaining. I almost laughed out loud on the bus a couple times while reading it. If you can't see the humor in situations where women are treated like sex objects then don't read this. If you don't think it's funny to drunk drive a car into a bakery and leave the scene without a trace, don't read this book. If you don't think it's funny to f@ck a fat girl and then throw her clothes out the window and make her run out the front door so your roomates don't see her, don't read this book. Get it. Good.
One of the funniest books I've ever read.......2007-09-26
Rarely does a book make me laugh out loud. The last one was "A Nasty Bit of Rough"...but if you don't like golf you should avoid it.
If all the stories in here are true, and I'll bet they are, how in the hell is he still alive? Between his psychotic friends, his raging addiction to vodka and his insatiable sex drive, most mortal men would be either pushing up daisies or resting comfortably in a padded cell.
Tucker is a great storyteller and you are cheating yourself out of a ton of laughs by not reading this one. Bra - freaking - vo!
Book Description
Most events that catch us by surprise are both predictable and preventable, but we consistently miss (or ignore) the warning signs
This book shows why such “predictable surprises” put us all at risk, and shows how we can understand, anticipate, and prevent them before disaster strikes.
There is a universal fear factor surrounding this subject: that society and the workplace are filled with disasters in the making that we could prevent if we only knew what to look for. This book plays on that fear and offers a positive, proactive resolution to it.
Customer Reviews:
Enlightening.......2007-08-27
The book jumps around but makes clear and valid points. A great eye opener! I would recommend this to students, leaders, informed citizens...just about anybody. I'm definitely getting more copies for friends and loved ones.
On Target - Bullseye - Should have seen it coming.......2005-10-07
Anyone who has worked for some sort of organization, government agency, business, university or whatever, will empathise with "Predictable Surprises" by Bazerman and Watkins. This book focuses on the early and late warning signs, the cover-ups, the denials, and the eventual consequences of failing to take action to avert disaster. I've been in far too many situations where I observed that the peple "in charge" (really??) were blindsided by their own limited vision to the realities of what was happening within their organizations.
There are two "Predictable Surprises" that weren't included. First, Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath in New Orleans. Anyone visiting that city and talking with one's professional compatriates could have seen coming what unfolded before our eyes. The warning signs and studies were out there and ignored. That's why those who had a reasonable level of education left town and paid attention to the evacuation notices.
The other predictable surprise that was missed was the sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church. I'm Protestant but know a lot of fine Roman Catholic people. I heard things as long ago as fifty years and knew then that this situation was going to explode in the public domain. "Predictable Surprises" provides the principals that explain why this particular surprise was kept under the radar so long.
An outstanding book that should be read by everyone working in the corporate world, a government agency, a university, the military, or a non-profit organization. Your life may depend on knowing what's in this book.
Predictably bad.......2005-06-14
A major shortcoming of Bazerman and Watkins' book is the failure to provide adequate evidence to support their arguments about what they call "predictable surprises", which they define as "an event or series of events that take an individual or group by surprise, despite prior awareness of all of the information necessary to anticipate the events and their consequences." Bazerman and Watkins build their case substantially on just two examples: aviation security failures leading to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and auditor independence concerns leading to the collapse of Enron and Arthur Anderson. Several other examples are discussed in less depth throughout the text, however many of these are not actually predictable surprises under the definition provided. For example, global warming is discussed a number of times; however global warming has been in public discussion since the 1930s, and today a substantial majority of people believe not only the concept of global warming but that current warming is man-made. By 2050, this subject will have been under study for 120 years and popular consensus will have been achieved for 50-60 years. This is certainly predictable, but hardly a surprise. The United States' looming crisis in entitlement spending also falls in this category.
Flaws exist in other anecdotal support as well. For example, Bazerman and Watkins cite aviation security failures as an occasion when overly discounting the future lead to a predictable surprise. Quick calculation based on figures provided in the book show that, using equal discount rates for the expected future cost of security and the future cost of disaster, even with a disaster probability as high as 10% for any given year, the airlines would be ahead on a cost basis. The total destruction of both World Trade Center towers and the massive ensuing death toll was not reasonably foreseeable by the airline industry; based on the typical passenger plan carrying 78 people, this was the equivalent of an absurd 41 simultaneous aircraft disasters! Given the cost of implementation and the low probability of such a large disaster, even at a full cost of nearly $50 billion, the airlines' decision to oppose security measures on a cost basis was reasonable. The full scope of this surprise was unlikely enough that it should not be termed "predictable."
Despite some good analysis of reasons predictable surprises occur and ways to avoid them, this book is critically weakened by its lack of evidence. Bazerman and Watkins try to make it stand largely on just the aviation security and auditor independence failures; however these are insufficient evidence for their broad analysis and conclusions, particularly given the weakness of those arguments provided. This book would be substantially more persuasive with more anecdotal support.
Predictably OK.......2005-05-11
In a world ruled by probability, all predictions eventually come true (no matter how impossible.) That said, ignoring the obvious can be disastrous, but the authors methods for prioritizing risk were disappointing.
Updating the March of Folly.......2005-02-23
The authors have found a memorable phrase to describe a depressingly common phenomenon - the occurrence of a disaster or failure that has been widely and often publicly predicted. The term `predictable surprise' will undoubtedly enter the managerial and political language.
They have provided a valuable analysis of why these predictable disasters occur and what can be done to prevent them (while recognizing that there are also such things as `unpredictable surprises' which can not be avoided through these processes).
The book is invaluable for the clear way in which it brings the elements together and for the vividness and immediacy of the examples chosen to illustrate the points. The result is a book that is very readable as well as being immediately useful, even if many of the points have also been made elsewhere by other authors. The book provides a template against which organizations can assess their defences against `predictable surprises', and I suspect that every organization will find gaps in its armour when it measures itself against the recommendations in the book.
The authors also use the book to mount a stinging attack on the failures of the American political system (and by extension those of other countries) and the need for fundamental reform. Their attack on the activities of the special interest groups and their direct responsibility for some of the worst disasters that the US has suffered is particularly pointed. One can only hope that the criticisms will be listened to and acted upon, and that politicians as well as business people will read and note them.
Throughout the book, the systemic, interconnected nature of the processes that lead to predictable surprises is very clear, but the authors do not, in my opinion, highlight the fact as strongly as they should. They do point out that depletion of international fisheries is a classic case of 'the tragedy of the commons', one of several archetypal forms of systems relationship, but virtually every example that the authors cite could well be illustrated with simple systems diagrams based on one or other of the classic 'systems archetypes'. Systemic issues require systemic solutions and the leverage for systemic change may be located well beyond the area of control of the immediate actors - another fact that shows up clearly in the course of the authors' examples.
It is probably no coincidence that I was strongly reminded of Barbara Tuchman's The March of Folly as I read the book. The perspective and coverage is different, but the themes of willful ignorance, willful inaction and willful pursuit of perceived short-term self interest as fundamental drivers of future disasters are common to both. If Tuchman were still alive, I would have confidently expected an analysis of Iraq to follow her masterful analysis of the Vietnam war, the American War of Independence and the drivers of the Reformation. In its own way, Predictable Surprises provides a contemporary update of the ways in which we continue the march of folly.
Average customer rating:
- Dramatic reading is enthralling, keeps me focused
- Splendid!
- A Great way to "Read" the Bible by hearing it!
- A vibrant, energizing delivery...
- Superb
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The Listener's Bible NIV
Manufacturer: Fellowship for the Performing Arts
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ASIN: 1931047170 |
Book Description
All 66 books of the Bible, read dramatically and powerfully by Max McLean, celebrated stage presenter of the Bible. This 66-CD set comes with a leatherette carrying case which is perfect for your travels near and far. The recordings are all digitally mastered and come with a lifetime replacement guarantee. Bestselling author Chuck Swindoll says that these recordings of the Bible are, quite simply, "the best."
Customer Reviews:
Dramatic reading is enthralling, keeps me focused.......2007-07-19
Max McLean reads the Bible like it really means something to him, as if he has almost memorized it. (And, in fact, the man stands up in front of audience all over the country and quotes, word for word, from whole chapters of the Bible. I have watched in amazement as he has recited from Mark and Acts, and he is completely on with his recitation! Both times I was in the audience he received standing ovations.) I use the CD set with my daily Bible reading every day and feel it helps keep me on track with those passages that can sometimes feel long and boring. But Max reads Leviticus 18 as he does John 3, as he never lets up and treats every verse as if one's salvation rested on it. He even gets into the hard-to-pronounce names, and while I'm not always sure if his pronounciation is correct, it sure sounds correct. There are some instances where Max misses a word or adds in one of his own--perhaps somebody should have really been listening along with him in the studio and then edited these small errors--but they really are far and few between, and they never change the meaning of the passage. In fact, I could never come close to his incredible accuracy. Overall, this is a big thumbs up for what ought to be considered a spiritual investment.
Splendid!.......2007-05-06
Max McLean's audio bible is a masterpiece. McLean's delivery is lucid, powerful, and skillfully engaging. I listen to this Bible daily. Mclean gives you "the story" or the panoramic view of the scripture. The NIV translation lends itself more to a fluid listening of the scripture. McLean certainly communicates with conviction the inherent authority of God's word. He brings the scripture to life, putting you into the time period in which it was written. Purchased this product along with Scourby's KJV through Amazon and it is a timeless investment.
A Great way to "Read" the Bible by hearing it!.......2007-03-13
I have truly been blessed by this item. It has allowed me to listen to the Bible when I don't have the time to actually sit down and read it. I highly recommend this item to anyone wanting to get to really know God and the word of the Lord. Max McLean is and English trained actor and unless you like hearing an Englishman talk you may not like it, but of course, that is why he was called into service for the Lord.
A vibrant, energizing delivery..........2007-03-10
Max McLean has the most beautiful, soothing voice I have heard on any audio recording. His delivery of the Bible texts is superb. I purchased both McLean's "The Listener's Bible" and "The Valley of Vision" recordings for my husband as a Christmas gift, and he has enjoyed immensely his daily commute of two hours ever since.
One reviewer mentioned attempting to read along as Mr. McLean delivered the beautiful biblical verses and having difficulty with the theatricality of Mr. McLean's voice. I disagree that his voice is theatrical; I do find it dramatic and moving and precisely how I would expect to hear the Word of the Lord - dramatic enough to know who is speaking but lovingly delivered.
As a teacher, I would suggest a method which might help persons reading the Bible and having difficulty with older, non-modern versions of any text. As with other fine literature, the modern, untrained reader must develop a knack for reading and understanding older literature and other texts correctly over time. One way is by hearing it again and again before attempting to decipher it in print.
In other words, listen to develop a familiarity with how the text would have been spoken, the inflections of voice, and the emphasis on certain words in order to "translate" concepts into modern terms. Then when one sits down to read the written word, it becomes much more clear and revealing. (Try this with Homer or Shakespeare as well.)
The best way I have found to fully appreciate Max McLean's narrative talent and the soul-soothing balm of the Bible is to close the drapes, lie back, exclude as many outside sounds as possible and devote an hour or more solely to LISTENING. Allow McLean's lovely voice to read to you. Just ENJOY it!
Then, if you can force yourself to stop the CD ("only ONE more chapter..."), go about your work or play. Later on or the next day, open your Bible and read what he read to you. It is amazing how more vivid the text will have become to you. I think this method will help much more than trying to read along. Sometimes our limited knowledge of words and their older meanings, our lack of proper inflection, and our unfamiliarity with the subject, history, or traditions and customs causes us to stumble over words and passages and to totally miss the concepts we might understand if we were not attempting to keep up with a reader. This is akin to "listening" to what another person is saying while, at the same time, thinking of some rebuttal or formulating a counter-speech in our heads. Listening is a wonderful skill.
My husband came home last night in a joyful mood, because in spite of his hectic day at work, rude drivers and heavy traffic on the highway, he had listened all the way home to the lovely, encouraging voice of God lovingly narrated by Max McLean.
If you purchase this item (and I also suggest "The Valley of Vision" -both the book and McLean's reading of it), you will most certainly benefit. Your listening skills will improve (might help at home and work, too), your appreciation for the Word of God also will be markedly changed, and the next time you read to someone, maybe McLean's dramatic and enthusiastic influence will spill over to your own reading.
Superb.......2007-01-11
Max is a master at what he does. Narrate. I play these all night and in the car. A perfect gift for everyone including self.
Book Description
Hands-on help for quicklyand persuasivelywriting company-mandated performance appraisals
Writing performance appraisals is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks managers face. Perfect Phrases for Performance Reviews simplifies the job, providing a comprehensive collection of phrases that managers can use to describe employee performance, provide directions for improvement, and more. For example:
- "Sets priorities well"
- "Misses important deadlines"
- "Thorough, reliable, and accurate"
All managers and HR professionals will value the book for its:
- Hundreds of ready-to-use phrases, organized by job skill and performance level
- Tips for documenting performance issues and conducting face-to-face reviews
- Easily adapted performance review templates covering five performance levels
With the wide-ranging assortment of descriptions available in this book, managers will be able to find the perfect terms to help them analyze and understand the work performance of each person they work with.
Customer Reviews:
Good but lacking.......2007-07-24
The book gives you exactly what it promises but not too much more. It doesn't really go above and beyond and that is why it gets three stars. I will be using it for performance evaluation ideas on reviewing terms. Anything else and the book would not be up to it.
Starter book on performance reviews........2007-05-28
This book would not be terribly helpful to someone who's had some experience in writing performance reviews. It's very basic, but may be a good starting point for a new manager or supervisor.
Ready to use .......2006-09-18
This book gets right to what you need, phrases for the performance review. This isn't a book you read but a book you use. Grab this book from the shelf, look up the skill or ability, match the performance and choose the phrase that fits best. This approach is straight forward and to the point. A must have for all managers. Then add the documented measurements of that performance like the number of days missed, etc...
Perfect phrases.......2006-07-25
Excellent resource for dealing with difficult employees; perfect phrases to use in human relations situtuations.
Not-so-perfect-phrases.......2006-03-27
Although this book is helpful in writing reviews, the lanugage in the book is very primary, and not useful for management type positions. I was disappointed in the book.
Average customer rating:
- Absolutely the Best Study Bible
- Inspirational Study Bible
- The Inspirational Study Bible, the very best ever
- Inspirational Study Bible by Max Lucado
- The Inspirational Study Bible/King James Version
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The Inspirational Study Bible
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
King James
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| ( L )
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Similar Items:
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The Devotional Bible: Experience the Heart of Jesus (New Century Version)
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Inspirational Study Bible
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Life Lessons with Max Lucado: Book Of Psalms
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The Inspirational Study Bible
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Everyday Blessings: 365 Days of Inspirational Thoughts
ASIN: 0849951232 |
Book Description
In addition to the complete text of the Bible, there are over 700 essential "life lessons" - which are teaching units designed to give you a better understanding and appreciation of the Scripture passages. Plus, Mac offers fresh introductory comments for each and every book of the Old and New Testaments. You'll also find 48 special inserts offering encouraging words from Mac on a variety of inspirational topics, a dictionary/concordance, a topical index, and 100 of the most inspiring passages of the Bible - personally selected by Max Lucado. Unique among all Bibles combining both Bible study and inspirational tools.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely the Best Study Bible.......2003-06-09
I really love my Max Lucado Inspirational NKJV Study Bible. It's a wonderful study bible with many sidebars of life lessons of Lucado's teaching guides. This the only one I use because it helps me to have a better understanding of the Scriptures. Each Book of the Old and New Testaments are laid out in an instruction manual style. All chapters are boldly titled to explain the situation for each one. The Life Lessons examines more closely the situation, makes observations, gives inspiration, makes application and gives further explorations of other scriptures throughout the Bible. It's chalkful of footnotes of many reliable references. Throughout this study gem are more inspirational ancedotes from Grace, Forgiveness, Suffering and Victory to God's Love, Hope, Prayer and Faith. And many more worthwhile inspirations that will bless your life. Even more, it has one hundred greatest thoughts, an index to selected readings, a dictionary with topical concordance, acknowledgments from many great references from the most notable names in Christianity. There's even a place in the back to add your own notes. I'm sure this is the only study bible you'll ever use. I find it to be the most comprehensive, enriching masterpiece of the Holy Bible yet. I would definitely give this as a nice gift.
Inspirational Study Bible.......2003-04-04
I found this to be an excellent study tool. Max Lucado does not give a commentary on the verses. Instead he gives a life application lesson with the scriptures and a devotional thought. XCELLENT!!!!!
The Inspirational Study Bible, the very best ever.......2002-02-04
I love the Inspirational Study Bible, mine is NKJV. It has truly opened the word up to me as never before. I love reading and studying from it. It helps me understand a lot more of what was going on at the times the books were written. Mostly it helps me apply the Word to my own life. It has spoiled me, I have hunted several times for it in leather bound, I sure wish they would make it. I would get 1 for every member of my family.
Mary A.
Inspirational Study Bible by Max Lucado.......2000-07-13
Max Lucado is such a gifted writer. He is truly blessed by God. This bible made such a difference in my life when I needed it the most. It was clear, concise, and most importantly, portrayed Jesus to me in a way that I could truly understand. The summing up of the text and the highlights were very thorough. Definitely a keeper.
The Inspirational Study Bible/King James Version.......2000-05-03
I purchased this Bible over 3 years ago and was so appreciative of the book as a whole. It was informative and the illustrations on the side gave me hope each and every day. Unfortunately, the Bible was stolen because it was in the driver's seat of my vehicle that was stolen in July of 1997. I have not found a Bible that has so much to offer as well as inform. I really love the way Max Lucado illustrates the Word.
Average customer rating:
- Pleasant diversion
- If you are a teen you will love it!
- I hope this isn't the last for Max!
- What a ride!
- Daughter Loved It
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Maximum Ride #3: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride)
James Patterson
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Action & Adventure
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Mysteries, Espionage, & Detectives
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
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| ( P )
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| ( P )
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Similar Items:
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Maximum Ride Book #2: School's Out - Forever (Maximum Ride)
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Maximum Ride : The Angel Experiment (Teen's Top 10 (Awards))
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You've Been Warned
ASIN: 0316155608
Release Date: 2007-05-29 |
Book Description
There's one last chance to save the world in MAXIMUM RIDE: SAVING THE WORLD AND OTHER EXTREME SPORTS, the closing chapter of James Patterson's thrilling trilogy. The time has arrived for Max and her winged "Flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution", a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them--but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another?
Customer Reviews:
Pleasant diversion.......2007-10-04
Max Ride is a fun character. She and her companions have been well developed through the series. As the fifth book in which these winged adolescents appear, it is a pleasant way of relaxing into the world of one's imagination.
If you are a teen you will love it!.......2007-09-18
If this book was targeted for a broad audience then I would rate it a 1. However, and fortunately, it is not. If you are 9 to 14, buy it, you will love it! The series has a very specific range of readers: kids under eight will not be able to comprehend the concept (excluding the elite); teens over fourteen may be psycologically beyond accepting the elementary concept (for them I recommend adult science-fiction).
Patterson does a wonderful job of delivering an outstanding teen series. Read them all!
I hope this isn't the last for Max!.......2007-09-13
A great trilogy! I just hope this isn't all for this delightful yet action packed series. A great book series for any age.
What a ride!.......2007-09-12
What a ride! I'm an adult with teenagers and I often read what they read. This book is a great ride. It's written mostly in the first person with down-to-earth street language (minus the curse words) which works well. By the middle of the book you find yourself convinced that the mutant characters could exist; their world is real. We can't wait till the rest in the series comes in the mail!
Daughter Loved It.......2007-09-10
I bought this book for my 14-yr-old daughter actually. SHe has read all three and absolutely loved this one too. I found her reading this late at night after 'bedtime' and sneaking it in throughout the day. She could not put it down. Highly recommended for her age group.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Whole Bible On Audio CD I Know Of.......2007-10-03
This was a gift to me by a member in my congregation. Previously they had given me the NT as well. I've already started using this product daily. At the time of this review, Amazon's price was almost $14 lower than the discount Christian book sites I checked. So this is a great place to buy this item.
First let me say that the CD packaging is solid. Leather case, with easy access sleeves that are durable.
Second, the version that is read here is the finest available in English in my opinion. I came to this conclusion after carefully comparing it to the Greek New Testament for about a year, my own translation work from sermons last year, and about 7 other English translations (including the NIV, NLT, NAS, NKJV, KJV. The ESV maintains a tight mirror image to the original text, yet it sounds like a pleasant English. For more on this, you may wish to read my review on the ESV Outreach Bible here on Amazon.
If you have access to them, ask any Greek scholar about the ESV and I think you will find they give it extremely high marks. So I prefer this audio bible mainly because it is the ESV. On to less important details...
The CD labels and finishing quality are fine. No problems.
A few CD's had data read problems with feeding the track labels to Windows Media Player. One cd I was able to get it to load onto itunes, and then it worked on Windows Media Player after I loaded it onto itunes. On another cd that didn't work, so I had to type in the track titles manually. I was unable to get five of the 62 cds to load the info labels on the tracks. The actual tracks played just fine. I don't know if it was from my software, my cd drive or the product.
Otherwise, the product is flawless. A light touch of music in the background is not irritating and is soothing/meditative. The Max McLean speaks at a 'walking pace' throughout, which I find very pleasant.
I saved this onto my Windows media player, and then whatever passage I am preaching on that week I simply load onto my MP3 device so I have the scripture right there. I highly recommend this product.
Other ways this product can be used include listening while working out (I find the music background helps a bit). Also, it is good for a family devotional primer or even for use in a congregational setting. I often use it in a leaders meeting or in a small group meeting.
Good product!.......2007-09-28
How does one review the Bible? Just to say the production is clean and crisp, and easily downloaded to your Itunes program. This MP3 product [[ASIN:1931047456 The Listener's Bible - ESV (4 MP3 CDs) is all it is cracked up to be, well worth the price.
Lee Copeland
How to make your iPod holy........2007-09-08
Yes you can now fit the entire Bible on a 4GB iPod if you happen to get this wonderfully presented CD set from Max McLean and it is worth every penny. The total file size is actually 2.01 GB (2,165,853,978 bytes). The files do need some tinkering (some batch file renaming is necessary) to get everything in order for the iPod (or whatever MP3 player) so that it runs from start to finish through every chapter break properly but in the end you will be able to listen to the entire Bible in the space of a few weeks (as opposed to hourly reading daily on a year bible reading plan) if you put your mind to it. This is also a great way to refresh oneself after reading a book of the bible or for casual listening. Max McLean has the best voice for it to date too (as if he is introducing or narrating a movie like the Ten Commandments or Jesus of Nazareth). If you are going to get an audio Bible this is the one to get.
Fantastic.......2007-09-02
If you want to listen to a great translation of God's Word, you will not be disappointed with this product. Max McLean has a powerful voice, and the background music is never too loud.
Excellent product.
Excellent! Much better than the NIV........2007-08-22
There were a lot of folks that complained that Max MacLean read the NIV too slowly. I think they took that feedback and this version seems to be read at an excellent tempo.
I am much more fond of the the ESV than the NIV in the first place, and to finally have it on mp3 is great! I put it on my iPod and listen to it on my commute.
If you are looking for an audio version of the Bible, this is the one to get. Don't look any further.
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