Book Description
The nation's premier communications expert shares his wisdom on how the words we choose can change the course of business, of politics, and of life in this country
In Words That Work, Luntz offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the tactical use of words and phrases affects what we buy, who we vote for, and even what we believe in. With chapters like "The Ten Rules of Successful Communication" and "The 21 Words and Phrases for the 21st Century," he examines how choosing the right words is essential.
Nobody is in a better position to explain than Frank Luntz: He has used his knowledge of words to help more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies grow. He'll tell us why Rupert Murdoch's six-billion-dollar decision to buy DirectTV was smart because satellite was more cutting edge than "digital cable," and why pharmaceutical companies transitioned their message from "treatment" to "prevention" and "wellness."
If you ever wanted to learn how to talk your way out of a traffic ticket or talk your way into a raise, this book's for you.
Customer Reviews:
Luntz's "1984".......2007-09-30
If you want to know how you are being manipulated, Frank Luntz will tell you how he does it in his candid book.
Clear. Concise. Comprehensive........2007-09-28
Dr. Luntz illustrates his 10 Rules of Effective Language in the subtitle of his book Words that Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear. His 10-rule, 10-word system proves the power of language.
Disturbingly accurate examples show the impact and importance of language. What gets wired in us and why? What moves us emotionally? What makes us spend? What connects us? Words are ripples.
Lutz reveals how we get so caught up in words that we fail to communicate. Consider leaders who speak in alphabet soup and spoil our language and understanding.
Like fine embroidery, words follow design; and design is seen differently by everyone with eyes.
Using case studies as examples, Luntz makes points about how passage of time affects words, how disordered words can cause dissension and how new words shade new meanings.
Most of all, he states, what we say is who we are. He's right. Think about it.
Rebecca Jacoby, copywriter
www.afewchosenwords.com
www.beckyjacoby.com
Brevity as an Effective Communication Skill (would that it were!).......2007-09-10
Mr. Luntz sites brevity as an effective communication skill, yet he goes on and on and on with his examples and repeats himself throughout the book.
He uses the book as a vehicle to promote his Republican platforms, which is boring and annoying.
He is a little impressed with himself and is not afraid to share that with the reader. An especially distasteful example of this is his self-serving introduction about performing for Democrats and celebrities at Ariana Huffington's home.
He tries to imitate Steven Levitt's style of writing but he's just not that interesting or cool.
WORDS THAT WORK.......2007-09-08
"Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear" by Frank Luntz is a modern day "how to win friends and influence people" for the 21st century. "Words That Work" is a good book but the best part is the '10 Rules of Effective Language' in the first few chapters, which is basically the whole point of the book.
You may not want to read the other chapters because the book does surprisingly focus also on how businesses can use words. You can pretty much ignore the Publisher's Weekly criticism that this book is partisan. Luntz sights good and bad examples of communication from both Democrats and Republicans. His first anecdote deals with giving a seminar at Arriana Huffington's home for the Hollywood Elite!
People who don't care about politics or business will probably get bored with this book. But if you only get half-way through the book you will be convinced that "It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear".
"MoveOn.Org" Democrats who try to smear the lessons Frank Luntz gives in this book may do so at your own peril.
If you want to communicate better, buy this book.......2007-09-07
Great book from a man who knows how to communicate. Don't let tags such as 'conservative' or 'Republican' prevent you from basic truths about communicating more effectively. Frank Luntz knows what most politicians, business people and marketers do not: It's not about them, it's about your audience. Or to put it more effectively, "It's not what you say, it's what people hear."
If you want to become a better sales person, a better pastor, a better politician, a better leader, or a better communicator then buy this book. If you have the greatest idea in the world but can't tell people what it is, it's worthless. If you have a vision but can't get other people to follow, you will never lead.
For me, this book boils down to one word: Results.
Frank Luntz writes a great book to help anyone who wants to communicate better.
Amazon.com
The crowning achievement of Jimmy Carter's presidency was the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, and he has continued his public and private diplomacy ever since, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his decades of work for peace, human rights, and international development. He has been a tireless author since then as well, writing bestselling books on his childhood, his faith, and American history and politics, but in Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, he has returned to the Middle East and to the question of Israel's peace with its neighbors--in particular, how Israeli sovereignty and security can coexist permanently and peacefully with Palestinian nationhood.
It's a rare honor to ask questions of a former president, and we are grateful that President Carter was able to take the time in between his work with his wife, Rosalynn, for the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity and his many writing projects to speak with us about his hopes for the region and his thoughts on the book.
A big thank you to President Carter for granting our request for an interview.
An Interview with President Jimmy Carter
Q: What has been the importance of your own faith in your continued interest in peace in the Middle East?
A: As a Christian, I worship the Prince of Peace. One of my preeminent commitments has been to bring peace to the people who live in the Holy Land. I made my best efforts as president and still have this as a high priority.
Q: A common theme in your years of Middle East diplomacy has been that leaders on both sides have often been more open to discussion and change in private than in public. Do you think that's still the case?
A: Yes. This is why private and intense negotiations can be successful. More accurately, however, my premise has been that the general public (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim) are more eager for peace than their political leaders. For instance, a recent poll done by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem showed that 58% of Israelis and 81% of the Palestinians favor a comprehensive settlement similar to the Roadmap for Peace or the Saudi proposal adopted by all 23 Arab nations and recently promoted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Tragically, there have been no substantive peace talks during the past six years.
Q: How have the war in Iraq and the increased strength of Iran (and the declarations of their leaders against Israel) changed the conditions of the Israel-Palestine question?
A: Other existing or threatened conflicts in the region greatly increase the importance of Israel's having peace agreements with its neighbors, to minimize overall Arab animosity toward both Israel and the United States and reduce the threat of a broader conflict.
Q: Your use of the term "apartheid" has been a lightning rod in the response to your book. Could you explain your choice? Were you surprised by the reaction?
A: The book is about Palestine, the occupied territories, and not about Israel. Forced segregation in the West Bank and terrible oppression of the Palestinians create a situation accurately described by the word. I made it plain in the text that this abuse is not based on racism, but on the desire of a minority of Israelis to confiscate and colonize Palestinian land. This violates the basic humanitarian premises on which the nation of Israel was founded. My surprise is that most critics of the book have ignored the facts about Palestinian persecution and its proposals for future peace and resorted to personal attacks on the author. No one could visit the occupied territories and deny that the book is accurate.
Q: You write in the book that "the peace process does not have a life of its own; it is not self-sustaining." What would you recommend that the next American president do to revive it?
A: I would not want to wait two more years. It is encouraging that President George W. Bush has announced that peace in the Holy Land will be a high priority for his administration during the next two years. On her January trip to the region, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for early U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. She has recommended the 2002 offer of the Arab nations as a foundation for peace: full recognition of Israel based on a return to its internationally recognized borders. This offer is compatible with official U.S. Government policy, previous agreements approved by Israeli governments in 1978 and 1993, and with the International Quartet's "roadmap for peace." My book proposes that, through negotiated land swaps, this "green line" border be modified to permit a substantial number of Israelis settlers to remain in Palestine. With strong U.S. pressure, backed by the U.N., Russia, and the European Community, Israelis and Palestinians would have to come to the negotiating table.
1/18/2007
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From Publishers Weekly
The term "good-faith" is almost inappropriate when applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a bloody struggle interrupted every so often by negotiations that turn out to be anything but honest. Nonetheless, thirty years after his first trip to the Mideast, former President Jimmy Carter still has hope for a peaceful, comprehensive solution to the region's troubles, delivering this informed and readable chronicle as an offering to the cause. An engineer of the 1978 Camp David Accords and 2002 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Carter would seem to be a perfect emissary in the Middle East, an impartial and uniting diplomatic force in a fractured land. Not entirely so. Throughout his work, Carter assigns ultimate blame to Israel, arguing that the country's leadership has routinely undermined the peace process through its obstinate, aggressive and illegal occupation of territories seized in 1967. He's decidedly less critical of Arab leaders, accepting their concern for the Palestinian cause at face value, and including their anti-Israel rhetoric as a matter of course, without much in the way of counter-argument. Carter's book provides a fine overview for those unfamiliar with the history of the conflict and lays out an internationally accepted blueprint for peace.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
Following his #1 New York Times bestseller, Our Endangered Values, the former president, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, offers an assessment of what must be done to bring permanent peace to Israel with dignity and justice to Palestine.
President Carter, who was able to negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt, has remained deeply involved in Middle East affairs since leaving the White House. He has stayed in touch with the major players from all sides in the conflict and has made numerous trips to the Holy Land, most recently as an observer in the Palestinian elections of 2005 and 2006.
In this book President Carter shares his intimate knowledge of the history of the Middle East and his personal experiences with the principal actors, and he addresses sensitive political issues many American officials avoid. Pulling no punches, Carter prescribes steps that must be taken for the two states to share the Holy Land without a system of apartheid or the constant fear of terrorism.
The general parameters of a long-term, two-state agreement are well known, the president writes. There will be no substantive and permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel is violating key U.N. resolutions, official American policy, and the international "road map" for peace by occupying Arab lands and oppressing the Palestinians. Except for mutually agreeable negotiated modifications, Israel's official pre-1967 borders must be honored. As were all previous administrations since the founding of Israel, U.S. government leaders must be in the forefront of achieving this long-delayed goal of a just agreement that both sides can honor.
Palestine Peace Not Apartheid is a challenging, provocative, and courageous book.
Customer Reviews:
Shows a lot of thought, reflexion, and prayer.......2007-09-24
You can tell President Carter has a true passion for world peace and a desire to truly understand what drives people, both individually, and as a people to become who they are and do the things they do. What drives the human psyche and soul is affected by things, events, people, time, and place in history, and things beyond what we can imagine. No one can truly judge someone else without prejudice without at least attempting to walk a mile in his subjects shoes; and yet he is humble enough to know that even in doing so he has still only walked a mile in someone else's shoes. He has still not lived someone else's life or struggled that person's plight whatever it may be consist of. He takes responsibility for his opinions and explains his points of view and what got him to those conclusions. We are all entitled to form our own. I like that his reflect deep thinking and prayer.
Great book!!!.......2007-09-19
This book needs to be read by everybody out there for whether you believe it or not, we areall affected by what's happening in the Middle East. Every right mind would agree that it there wasn't this rage in the East, the world would have been a much different place. Safer, I don't know about that. Any way, Mr. Carter take a very unusual look at the situation. The look is impartial and that's what makes it unusual. One of the point Mr. Carter argues about, which I am very greatful for, is that Israel has confiscated lands that are not theirs making the world believe that's it's for military security, whereas in reality it's for geographical expension.
I do belive that Israel shouldn't be going anywhere for, like all people, they've gotta have a place to live for they are, like all people, citizens of the planet Earth. But at the same time, Israel needs to respect the Palestine rights to exist and be a nation. And until we have a group of people to think like Mr. Carter and make Israel understand all of that, we'll still be sitting on an eastern hot pot ready to explode.
Reason and Restraint.......2007-09-18
President Carter draws from history, personal experience and extensive observations to present largely unknown or ignored facts and conclusions about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. His writing is clear and even-handed, never boring. Continuing his quest for peace in this region, Carter offers specific steps that both sides can follow to resolve their differences. "... we must not abandon efforts to achieve permanent peace for Israelis and freedom and justice for Palestinians."
Carter's realistic approach and unfailing optimism are highly commendable. Everyone should read this excellent book.
V. Good.......2007-09-14
very good book that sheds some light on the conflict and how to get out of it
informative.......2007-09-12
even for someone who have alot of knowledge about the conflict, this book is fully informative. i learned alot of details about the camp david accords that i ignored before. its language is simple and interesting to read.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Essayist and cultural critic Barbara Ehrenreich has always specialized in turning received wisdom on its head with intelligence, clarity, and verve. With some 12 million women being pushed into the labor market by welfare reform, she decided to do some good old-fashioned journalism and find out just how they were going to survive on the wages of the unskilled--at $6 to $7 an hour, only half of what is considered a living wage. So she did what millions of Americans do, she looked for a job and a place to live, worked that job, and tried to make ends meet.
As a waitress in Florida, where her name is suddenly transposed to "girl," trailer trash becomes a demographic category to aspire to with rent at $675 per month. In Maine, where she ends up working as both a cleaning woman and a nursing home assistant, she must first fill out endless pre-employment tests with trick questions such as "Some people work better when they're a little bit high." In Minnesota, she works at Wal-Mart under the repressive surveillance of men and women whose job it is to monitor her behavior for signs of sloth, theft, drug abuse, or worse. She even gets to experience the humiliation of the urine test.
So, do the poor have survival strategies unknown to the middle class? And did Ehrenreich feel the "bracing psychological effects of getting out of the house, as promised by the wonks who brought us welfare reform?" Nah. Even in her best-case scenario, with all the advantages of education, health, a car, and money for first month's rent, she has to work two jobs, seven days a week, and still almost winds up in a shelter. As Ehrenreich points out with her potent combination of humor and outrage, the laws of supply and demand have been reversed. Rental prices skyrocket, but wages never rise. Rather, jobs are so cheap as measured by the pay that workers are encouraged to take as many as they can. Behind those trademark Wal-Mart vests, it turns out, are the borderline homeless. With her characteristic wry wit and her unabashedly liberal bent, Ehrenreich brings the invisible poor out of hiding and, in the process, the world they inhabit--where civil liberties are often ignored and hard work fails to live up to its reputation as the ticket out of poverty. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
Millions of Americans work for poverty-level wages, and one day Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that any job equals a better life. But how can anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6 to $7 an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson. She soon discovered that even the lowliest occupations require exhausting mental and physical efforts. And one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors.Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generositya land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perceives its working poor.
Customer Reviews:
Thank you.......2007-09-30
I got it in time for class, actually ahead of time. Fast delivery, great price, item was exact.
Absolutely honest and real.......2007-09-29
As I read this book, I found myself nodding my head repeatedly. Barbara Ehrenreich's words are true. I know because I LIVED THEM. Her experiences were my own over the past five years when I found myself unable to continue the professional career I had chosen and moved to a new city to start over. Big mistake. Although interviewers were thrilled to hear that I had a college degree, I couldn't find a job that would pay me more than $9.00 an hour--and don't think I didn't try.
Basically, I thought it wouldn't be too bad, because like she says repeatedly, poor people find a way to get by, don't they? I must also admit that I had a bit of snobbishness going in, thinking that with my skills I would rise to a manager's rank in no time. Boy, was I mistaken. I wound up working next to people who had worked in the same jobs for five years before they got a promotion (and whose wage was within a dollar of where it had been when they started). I also found that there was a sort of layer of management, that a promotion may only be in name only, like shift manager, but that those are the first jobs cut in lean times because that pay rate is slightly higher than others.
I too learned from my coworkers not to work too hard, not just because management will expect more from me but that they'll expect more from everybody; that good behavior is so rarely rewarded; and that employers will outright put your health in jeapordy without a thought to consequences. Insisting on something like a breathing mask when working with noxious fumes or kneepads when doing lots of floorwork will label you a troublemaker and an outcast.
Most surprising of all, however--and something BE does not discover--is that people quit these jobs because THERE ARE A MILLION OTHER JOBS OUT THERE THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING. That was probably the biggest surprise. There is no reason to stay at one job when another will give you the same money and treat you just as badly. These are not employers who care about resumes and work history (indeed, resumes are considered superfluous and if you bring one, it will be shifted off to the side in favor of applications which often say DO NOT WRITE SEE RESUME). In fact, sometimes it works better for people to shift from job to job as life circumstances change. A woman might quit her day shift at CVS in favor of the graveyard shift at the supermarket during the summer while her kids are out of school because the babysitting arrangements work better, then at summer's end go to work for Arby's during the day again. Of course, that only happens with the flexibility of transportation. If you are counting on public transit or someone else to give you a ride, there's little recourse but to make do with what you've got.
While a few of Ehrenreich's conclusions seem farfetched--I did the pee test several times and think it's wise, especially for those who use machinery, handle kitchen knives, and are driving company vehicles--she hit the nail on the head when she explained that companies OWN their employees for the time that they're there. Things like scheduled breaks, limits on conversation even if the work is getting done, and video orientations are demeaning and dehumanizing. And that doesn't even mention things like hour cuts or schedule changes. Imagine what it's like to travel an hour by bus to find out that your schedule was changed, and that you're now working TOMORROW--even though the bus fare you just used and the fare to get back is the last money you have until your paycheck comes in four days. That happened to me twice--I borrowed money from my boss to manage it.
The wage itself is a problem. I was okay on the basics, but only bought two pairs of shoes each year (about $25.00 each) and bought discount everything--soap, shampoo, toothpaste. You don't really know it until you're there, but a little piece of you cries inside when you have to say no to a pack of gum or a cup of diner coffee because all the money you have is exactly enough to pay the gas bill.
I won't get into great detail about my housing situations, except to say that I ended up staying in an abusive relationship for a while because I had nowhere to go, then lived with a guy who spent four months on the Internet after he lost his job because his name was on the lease too and I couldn't take him off without his permission. Are there ways around these situations? Sure...and in fact lived in a shelter for a little while. However, in the first situation I was obligated to three months of the rent, and in the second could not afford court fees to evict him, which is what my building manager said I would have to do. When I was insensitive enough to mention offhandedly to other women at the shelter that I didn't really want to live in substandard housing, they all gave me a look of stiff disbelief and resentment. Substandard housing was a way of life for them, even WITH abusive spouses. So housing is absolutely is a concern, especially where there are children involved.
At any rate, this is a book to buy that conservative you love dearly and wish would understand how the rest of the world lives. Take it from me--it's the God's honest truth.
The Awful Truth about the Movers and Shakers and Those they Move and Shake.......2007-09-28
At times I could not put NICKEL AND DIMED down. Although Barbara Ehrenreich has a sense of humor (and anger), she can't hide the sadness she witnesses. I am certainly going to look upon waitresses, maids, and hotel and house cleaners differently from now on--they'll get that tip or the full 20 percent, even if the service is not great (because I know why).
Here are some examples of her graphic and to-the-point style:
"Let's talk about s..t, for example. It happens, as the bumper sticker says, and it happens to a cleaning person every day. The first time I ecountered the s..t-stained toilet as a maid, I was shocked by the sense of unwanted intimacy. A few hours ago, some well-fed [...] was straining away on this toilet seat, and now here I am wiping up after it. ... I should explain that there are three kinds of s..t stains. There are remnants of landslides running down the inside.... (p. 92).
"...A coworker once advised me that, although I had a lot to learn, it was also important not to 'know too much,' or at least never reveal one's full abilities to management, because 'the more they think you can do, the more they'll use you and abuse you.' (p. 195)
"When someone works for less pay than she can live on--when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently--then she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life. The 'working poor,' as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect. ... To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else." (p. 221)
The only negative I found in NICKEL AND DIMED is Ehrenreich's short ranting (or so it seemed) against unionizing big powerful merchants which pay dirt-poor wages. Yep, to join you have to pay dues, but "united" members can get more of the benefits and pay they deserve than a person alone can. Just imagine shutting down such a national or international chain so the workers can be paid more than $6.00 to $7.00 an hour, and have to work two or three jobs to just get by!
Should be required reading in every high school in America!.......2007-09-22
Barbara Ehrenreich did impeccable research into the lives of people who bag our groceries, serve our food in restaurants, and work in those giant discount stores that happily take our money.
This was an exhausting walk in the shoes of people we assume must be living better lives, because, after all -- This Is America!
Read the book and ask yourself, why are there Americans working two or three jobs and still can't live an "American" lifestyle? Buy some extra copies and send them to your Senator and Congressman. It's time to create a way out of working poverty.
very readable and thought-provoking.......2007-09-16
This book grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't put it down. It was laugh-out-loud funny in parts, tears-to-your-eyes sad in others, touching and thought-provoking all the way through. It is a glimpse of the lives of people who are truly struggling just to live. I hope that it is being used as a text in business, economics, sociology and political science classes!
Book Description
Throughout history, arguments for and against the existence of God have been largely confined to philosophy and theology. In the meantime, science has sat on the sidelines and quietly watched this game of words march up and down the field. Despite the fact that science has revolutionized every aspect of human life and greatly clarified our understanding of the world, somehow the notion has arisen that it has nothing to say about the possibility of a supreme being, which much of humanity worships as the source of all reality. Physicist Victor J. Stenger contends that, if God exists, some evidence for this existence should be detectable by scientific means, especially considering the central role that God is alleged to play in the operation of the universe and the lives of humans. Treating the traditional God concept, as conventionally presented in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, like any other scientific hypothesis, Stenger examines all of the claims made for God's existence. He considers the latest Intelligent Design arguments as evidence of God's influence in biology. He looks at human behavior for evidence of immaterial souls and the possible effects of prayer. He discusses the findings of physics and astronomy in weighing the suggestions that the universe is the work of a creator and that humans are God's special creation. After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God.
Customer Reviews:
The Right Approach, the Wrong Conclusions.......2007-09-19
Victor Stenger tries to demonstrate that, far from confirming theism as some (myself included) have claimed, science actually demonstrates positively that God does not exist. Although considered by many commentators to be part of the `new atheist movement,' along with books from atheists Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, Stenger's book is much better than those by Dawkins and Harris because he actually attempts to deal with the evidence for and against God's existence rather than complain about the supposed social problems that religion creates. Stenger is straight to the point, for which he should be commended.
In the book, Stenger tries very hard to limit his discussion to issues of science, trying to leave out considerations of philosophy. However, while I understand his desire to approach the topic of God's existence from a unique angle, I think that this decoupling of science from philosophy raises several problems.
For example, in chapter 3, Stenger discusses scientific evidence from the field of neuroscience. He contends that evidence linking conscious states with brain states demonstrates that there is no soul, or, as he puts it, `world beyond matter.' Such a demonstration might be convincing if we are restricted to analyzing science alone. However, as many scientists have recognized, finding a link between brain states and conscious states is not the end of the game. Steven Pinker, a prominent psychologist, distinguishes between the `easy' and `hard' problem of consciousness. The easy problem is trying to identify the link between certain brain states and certain conscious experiences. As Stenger points out, science has made tremendous headway on this problem, and progress will likely continue. But, the hard problem will not go away, because the hard problem of consciousness deals figuring out why there is a first-person, subjective experience of consciousness. This hard problem of consciousness will not go away no matter how much science works on the easy problem. So, in my view, the evidence Stenger raises does little or nothing to challenge the idea that there is a soul. The existence of a soul is necessary to solve the hard problem of consciousness. Thus, in this case, Stenger's reliance on only science has led him, I think, to conclusions that are false and irrelevant.
Stenger runs into the same problem when he discusses morality. He attempts to use science to show that moral ideas come from our evolutionary history, and that religious believers are no better behaved then nonbelieving counterparts anyways. But these questions do not address the philosophical question "are moral values objective, and if so, then where do they come from?" Stenger can argue till he is blue in the face about the gradual development of moral instincts through evolution, but this is simply not relevant to the moral argument for God's existence.
Stenger's lack of philosophical reflection also allow him to reach absurd conclusions while trying to undermine theistic arguments. One particularly potent example in found on page 133, where he tries to answer the question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" He says,
"...Many simple systems of particles are unstable, that is, have limited lifetimes as they undergo spontaneous phase transitions to more complex structures of lower energy. Since `nothing' is as simple as it gets, we cannot expect it to be very stable. It would likely undergo a spontaneous phase transition to something more complicated, like a universe containing matter."
This view, however, is clearly metaphysically absurd. True nothingness cannot have any properties whatsoever, including the property of instability.
Other than a lack of sound philosophical thinking, the main problem with Stenger's book is the lack of depth. Each chapter is very short and Stenger simply tries to cover too much material in the space he allots. Many of his arguments are left with no support except for a footnote directing the reader to another one of his books.
Unfortunately, it is this lack of depth that ultimately diminishes the value of the book greatly. Although Stenger, unlike some of his atheist comrades, does at least look at the evidence for and against the existence of God, the treatment of the different subjects is too shallow. Moreover, by overlooking a consideration of philosophy, Stenger makes several errors in thinking and overlooks some powerful evidences for God's existence.
Long Live Stenger.......2007-09-16
This is not a Science book. One has to admire Stenger's courage to take on a "supreme being (the one "beyond matter, space, and time") that much of humanity worships. "Learning an enormous amount from this splendid book" (Richard Dawkins) will not be easy for the average reader, who selects this report (by a former physicist and astronomer) of a trial subjecting the God hypothesis to scientific study. The reader has the benefit of learning how scientific methods (as presently understood) are utilized to arrive at the conclusion that God does not exist.
Stenger's excellent and plentiful NOTES and extensive BIBLIGRAPHY are a signal that it takes a so-called scientific inclination (attitude or mind) to master and ultimately enjoy this book.In a 2003 book Stenger found claims of scientific evidence FOR God to be "inadequate". The present book now promises (and mostly succeeds) how "Science shows that God does not exist". Readers, not already having "committed themselves to God as an act of Faith" or "still practicing their religion out of respect for their heritage", who learn to handle the first two Chapters ("Models and Methods" and "The illusion of Design") will with less difficulty follow the evidence as presented by Stenger in nine wonderfully titled Chapters (each with an epigraph - several by David Hume - quite wisely selected). I certainly welcomed Stenger's claim that "if scientific arguments for the existence of God are to be allowed into intellectual discourse, then those against his evidence also have a legitimate place". He ends his book with a refreshing Chapter on "Living in the Godless Universe". Stenger is there to help whenever we are confronted by the never-ending religious onslaught as enjoyed and practiced by many militant believers.
Never forgetting - throughout the book - that the hypothesis to be tested is the existence of God, the reader will find this "journey" to be enjoyable (Stenger's style of writing helps a lot) and probably convincing.
The physics of faith.......2007-09-15
A number of years ago, the late [great?] Stephen J. Gould produced "Rocks of Ages". The work was designed as a peace offering between those relying on reason and those relying on faith to view the cosmos. Gould, like some others of the time, was willing to let "moral" issues remain in the hands of religious leaders. Science, he declared, was a separate "magisterium". Victor Stenger declares that such a separation is false and misleading. He argues that gods, particularly that of the "three great monotheisms" is a fit subject for scientific study. In this captivating and skillful analysis, he does just that. The results, ably presented in fluent language, are devastating to the notion that any supernatural being, especially the Judeo-Christian-Islamic deity, has substance. If such a thing could exist, it would be too remote from human conditions to have any meaning.
Although Stenger credits Galileo and Darwin with significant contributions to pushing a god away from human affairs, it's his own field of physics that provide the most compelling evidence, or lack of it, for any gods. As with any research subject, the author formulates hypotheses explaining why a god should exist, then tests them for valid evidence. To apply scientific methods to examining the evidence for the supernatural, he explains that ideas about the world are observed and models derived to explain their workings. Those models must be tested by valid methods, comprehensive and definitive. His examination of intercessory prayer as a healing mechanism [Chap. 3] demonstrates how flawed methods skew evidence. Ignoring real evidence, as his examination of the "Illusion of Design" demonstrates, has allowed such commentators as Michael Behe and William Dembski to forward untestable concepts of how life's processes work.
Perhaps the most compelling section [Chap. 4 "Cosmic Evidence"] in this book is his discussion of the big bang. How often have we heard the challenge: "What caused the Big Bang?" by believers who need a deity to initiate the cosmos, even if it clearly has no role in it. Stenger takes us back to the first instance of the universe's beginning. He notes that the actual origins may be debated: the universe may recycle itself or have come from another universe, for example. Ours, however, began in chaos, but quickly followed the laws of physics the author has studied for so long. From that point, there's no role for a deity to play - Nature's own rules are in command. Physics, not gods, gave us stars, galaxies, the heavy elements needed to form life and a place where conditions were conducive to that result. As a conclusion to this segment, he even asks why there should be a universe at all - the ancient philosophical question: "Why is there something rather than nothing?" His answer clarifies the question from a physicist's empirical stance.
As he progresses through the book, the author postulates questions about what justifies a god - particularly that of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions. The roles assigned to the deity, one whose adherents declare it to be "omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent [at least to humans]" fail every empirical test. It is certainly not "all-knowing" or it would prevent some events that go against its own dicta. It is clearly not "completely powerful" since too many phenomena cannot be attributed to it. The "benevolent" argument was destroyed by Charles Darwin, and the history of its own actions belie that contention. A god demanding genocide or acts such as the destruction of the World Trade Center, can hardly claim "benevolence". To attribute to such a deity the origin or definition of "morals" is false, and Stenger rebukes Gould and others for making such an attribution. Morality, as Stenger shows, is widespread across the animal kingdom, a product of natural selection, not divine ordinance or declaration. This fact, he contends, is important for us all to understand in order not to fall prey to leaders who inflict arbitrary decisions on us claiming divine inspiration.
It is difficult to praise this book highly enough. Although there have been many books recently published to show why belief in the supernatural is misplaced, few have taken a hard scientific path to make their case. Stenger's book, although the latest in a string by this author, is his most outstanding effort. Readable and informative, it should be taken up by any who make arguments for faith in deities and who declare religion should guide our lives. Even the dedicated non-theists will find it useful. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Must Reading for the Unbelievers.......2007-09-11
Stenger brings a brilliant analysis to the fundamental questions of the non existence of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim deity, with additional comments on the Eastern religions. His analysis is based on a rational inquiry into the intellectual basis of religion, finding that God is not only an unnessary concept, it is infact destructive.
The best of the recent Atheist books.......2007-09-10
I have read about 20 books on God, Atheism, Evolution and Intelligent Design since coming "out of the confessional" as a full-fledged Atheist/Humanist about 4 months ago after a life time of agnosticism (and some superstition). I've read the latest and greatest by Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennet, Sam Harris, Bart Ehrman, Chris Hitchens and David Mills, and I think they have all have made valuable contributions. Stenger is different. Stenger seems to me like the quiet guy in the room that listens attentively to a raging debate, quietly listening and taking notes but with intelligent eyes trying to find meaning (and the meaning behind the meaning) in the debate. After all is said (and little done) he then quietly goes to the board and draws a picture or writes a statement or proof that gets everybody's head nodding.
In "God: The Failed Hypthesis" Victor Stenger quietly and methodically pulls apart any rational belief in God. (He, along with everybody else, is powerless against the much more popular and virulent strain known as "irrational belief in God", also known as "I beleive in God because I beleive in God!" or "The Bible is the true word of God because it says it is!"
Now, do you see what I've done there? I made a few condenscending remarks meant to show that I am intellectually superior to believers. As a point of fact, that is something that Stenger never does in this book, and it is why it is so refreshing! He doesn't disdain believers. He just wants those that say they have proof to show their proof so it can be tested like proofs for all other extraordinary claims.
He is particularly convincing when discussing the particularities of particles (or quantum particles, I think). He even goes so far as to say the laws of the universe were not violated at the incredibly small fraction of a second that started the Big Bang because the laws of physics and thermodynamics (conservation of energy and entropy) have never been violated. He even claims that the "net weight" (actually, net energy) of the universe is ZERO because all of the matter in the universe is EXACTLY counterbalanced by the "dark matter" and other gravitational forces.
This book is a perfect antidote to books like the horribly written and bereft of logic work of Hugh Ross Creation As Science: A Testable Model Approach to End the Creation/evolution Wars and other "Creation Scientists" of that ilk. While I can spot the obvious flaws in their logic, I am not a scientist so I cannot debate which facts they claim have or haven't been proven. Victor Stenger CAN debate them, and does, citing credible reference throughout. It is well organized and concise, and makes a repeating refrain at the end of each chapter: The universe looks exactly as we might expect it to look if there were no god.
Amen!
Book Description
"
Failure Is Not an Option is a deeply passionate call to arms, combined with the wherewithal to take systematic, continuous, and effective action. A must read for all those interested in reform because it is simultaneously inspiring and practical."
From the Foreword by Michael Fullan, Dean
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
"This is a practical, well formatted book that is intellectually solid, emotionally inspiring, and practically accessible."
Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Lynch School of Education, Boston College
"Both inspirational and eminently practical,
Failure Is Not an Option can serve as a handbook for both strategic planning and classroom-by-classroom reworking. Any administrator who truly wishes to change his or her school can use this book as a manual from which to design every aspect of the change process."
Robert W. Cole, Educational writer and consultant
Louisville, KY
"This book speaks to the spark of caring, generosity, and greatness in every child and provides caring adults with ideas and tools to unleash this potential. It leaves no part of the child behind, and leaves no adult on the sidelines."
Maurice J. Elias, Professor of Psychology
Rutgers University, New Jersey
The powerful new guide to creating successful and sustainable professional learning communities!
Building on a foundation that identifies courageous school leadership and the professional learning community as the center of effective school reform, this powerful new book by Alan M. Blankstein offers six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools:
1. Common mission, vision, values, and goals
2. Systems for prevention and intervention
3. Collaborative teaming for teaching and learning
4. Data driven decision making and continuous improvement
5. Active engagement from family and community
6. Building sustainable leadership capacity
Covering theory into practice, applications that include case studies and vignettes, and techniques for addressing difficult issues, the book also provides valuable dual perspectives on the critical issues: how implementation looks when it’s done right as well as when things go wrong.
Failure Is Not an Option is sure to be the state-of-the-art resource that school leaders reach for when, in Michael Fullan’s words, they need "practical applications to perplexing problems."
See
Facilitator's Guide to Failure Is Not an Option(TM)
Customer Reviews:
Success is not optional - Buy this book.......2007-09-17
Speaks to you as if the author were sitting down for a chat. Excellent text for a Leadership Class. Quick Read!!!
Failure is not a option.......2007-02-16
same ideals I have read time and time again,. nothing new and it cost to much.
Develops six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools.......2004-10-10
Failure Is Not An Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement In High-performing Schools is an impressive introduction to enhancing student performance which directly addresses transforming theory into practice and illustrating diverse applications with case studies and vignettes. Failure Is Not An Option develops six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools. Also available in a hardcover edition, Failure Is Not An Option is especially commended to the attention of administrators and faculty responsible for providing primary leadership in developing curriculum and policies for meeting enhanced federal and state standards for individual school and school district criteria under the "no child left behind" education standards for student academic performance levels.
Book Description
Take your real estate career to the highest level!
"Whether you are just getting started or a veteran in the business, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent is the step-by-step handbook for seeking excellence in your profession and in your life."
--Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator, #1 New York Times bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul
"This book presents a new paradigm for real estate and should be required reading for real estate professionals everywhere."
--Robert T. Kiyosaki, New York Times bestselling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad
The Millionaire Real Estate Agent explains:
- Three concepts that drive production
- Economic, organizational, and lead generation models that are the foundations of any high-achiever's business
- How to "Earn a Million," "Net a Million," and "Receive a Million" in annual income
Customer Reviews:
How to be the best in Real Estate.......2007-07-26
Gary Keller tells it like it should be. If you have a true servant's heart and want to help people with the skill and knowledge you have as a Realtor, this is the book to read. He gives a number of techniques but ultimately, he makes it clear that you need to want to do what is best for your client - not your pocket. Excellent book, I recommend this to every new agent I work with. Need a plan to get started right, Gary is the man with the plan!
A Primer on doing business.......2007-07-14
There are many books available that address sales and marketing for the real estate agent but very few provide solid advice on how to run a real estate business. This easy to follow book provides information that, if applied will set any agent apart from his peers.
A must read! Changed my career!.......2007-06-27
After the first 6 months in business (I've just finished my 3rd year), I decided to buy a number of Real Estate instructional books on how to sell Real Estate. I had a feeling this would be the best. I saved it for last. I read 4 other books over the holidays (about a 4 week period). The other books were good, but redundant and nothing that changed me. I started to read this book and immedietely knew that this book was different. It gave specific direction on what has worked for successful people. Not just successful people here and there, but the book took a scientific approach to identify common practices among groups of successful Realtors.
The result? I can't say that I do everything that the book says to do. I should! But, I have taken parts of the books and implemented those practices. The year after reading this book I made the top 20% in the market. The following year I made the top 15%. And this year is off the charts. I'm not sure where I will end up, but top 10 or better.
There is no substitute for hard work, but I would rather work hard the right way. Best of luck!
You've Got To Be Open To A Unique Perspective.......2007-06-23
This is the best book on the market on how to organize and run a real estate agent business. Its principles are applicable whether you are a brand new agent, or have years of experience. That said, if you are looking for a book to explain listings per se, or working with buyers per se, then this might not be the right book for you -- this book looks at being an agent from a much broader (and more important in my opinion) perspective than that. If you are smart (if you "get it") then you will realize that the things taught in this book are far more important to your ultimate success than any book you might read on how to take a listing. Buy this book, read it ten times, and when you think you understand it read it ten more times! Its message is that important! Few understand this.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I am an attorney, real estate broker, investor, trainer, and am affiliated with a Keller Williams office in Chicago. That said, rest assured that my affiliation with Keller Williams does not affect my integrity with respect to my review of this book -- honestly, it is a good book that you should read. For what it's worth, I am the author of another real estate related book that can also be found here on Amazon -- The WealthLoop Series Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth Buying Houses: The Foolproof Roadmap to Real Estate Riches Without the Risks and Hassles of Landlording. It's part of the "WealthLoop Series" and unlike many real estate books, it is an actual "how to" book as opposed to a "rah-rah" book and comes complete with forms, checklists, leases -- everything the beginning investor needs to get started. Agents from across the country have been telling me that my book finally taught them the right way to work with residential investors.
I would suggest that you buy both mine and Gary Keller's books.
Useless.......2007-06-19
I am a rookie agent and found the material worthless, a complete waste of money and time. There is no real technique here. The book so repetitive its agonizing. The worst part is it really has nothing to do with real estate, I learned NOTHING about the real estate business reading this book. You could re title the book an infinite number of times and have the same content "The Millionaire Day Care Worker" for example. There is as much information about running a day care as there is real estate. Steer clear.
Amazon.com
Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective through exposure to a pair of disparate influences: his own highly educated but fiscally unstable father, and the multimillionaire eighth-grade dropout father of his closest friend. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" (whose weekly paychecks, while respectable, were never quite sufficient to meet family needs) pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad" (that "the poor and the middle class work for money," but "the rich have money work for them"). Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, written with consultant and CPA Sharon L. Lechter, lays out his the philosophy behind his relationship with money. Although Kiyosaki can take a frustratingly long time to make his points, his book nonetheless compellingly advocates for the type of "financial literacy" that's never taught in schools. Based on the principle that income-generating assets always provide healthier bottom-line results than even the best of traditional jobs, it explains how those assets might be acquired so that the jobs can eventually be shed. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective through exposure to a pair of disparate influences: his own highly educated but fiscally unstable father, and the multimillionaire eighth-grade dropout father of his closest friend. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" (whose weekly paychecks, while respectable, were never quite sufficient to meet family needs) pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad" (that "the poor and the middle class work for money," but "the rich have money work for them"). Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, written with consultant and CPA Sharon L. Lechter, lays out his the philosophy behind his relationship with money. Although Kiyosaki can take a frustratingly long time to make his points, his book nonetheless compellingly advocates for the type of "financial literacy" that's never taught in schools. Based on the principle that income-generating assets always provide healthier bottom-line results than even the best of traditional jobs, it explains how those assets might be acquired so that the jobs can eventually be shed. --Howard Rothman
Download Description
A #1 New York Times bestseller, 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' is a true story on the lessons about money that Robert Kiyosaki learned from his two "dads." One dad, a Ph.D. and superintendent of education, never had enough money at the end of the month and died broke. His other dad dropped out of school at age 13 and went on to become one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii. 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' will . . .· Explode the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich · Challenge the belief that your house is an asset · Show parents why they can't rely on the school system to teach their kids about money
· Define once and for all an asset and a liability · Teach you what to teach your kids about money for their future financial success. In 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad', Robert Kiyosaki explains how to make your money work hard for you instead of you working hard for money.
Customer Reviews:
Great Information.......2007-10-03
This book was everything that I heard it was. Great for anyone trying to become rich!
Shameless in its Amorality .......2007-09-25
A book whose philosophy is near perfect in its amorality. In this self-help business book, Kiyosaki (a Japanese American who grew up in Hawaii) talks about his poor dad (his biological father, a public school teacher who tried to teach the values of honesty and hard work to his son during his life and who never became wealthy) and his rich dad (a local businessman who became his mentor and is probably something of a fictional figure). Kiyosaki admires his amoral rich dad: he even boasts how he paid less taxes than his biological father even though he was far richer. Many of this sort of pop business books end up claiming that personal greed ends up in a bigger public benefit, but this book doesn't even try to make this claim (because of this honesty, I rate this book two stars instead of a single one). As if that wasn't enough, Kiyosaki's business "advice" (mainly dealing with real estate) is vague and run of the mill (no one will get rich by following this book, but he did get rich rich from writing it, much more than from his business deals).
Great book to change the way you think about making money!!!.......2007-09-23
I was told to buy this book from someone whom I skate with who has a house that looks like a hotel. Ok enough said on that.
This book is for the person who's lived their life believing that they have to work for someone else and get a salary and be productive their whole life. The average working way to think about making money. This book tells you how to think differently about whole the idea of making money. This book won't tell you how to make a single cent, but rather how to notice opportunities and strike when the average person would stand back and say "you're crazy for doing this". Notice a trend in thinking here, the crazy people who did stuff when no one else did are the ones who are usually wealthy in a short period of time compared to the one who's tied to their office hoping for a raise of some kind or recognition.
Excellent philosophy and ideas and pretty good reading.......2007-09-19
I had to start this book 3 times because I wasn't too impressed with the beginning and kept putting it aside, but once I got to about page 34 I had gotten a couple of good ideas and by page 100 I was hooked. The beginning was a lesson that made sense later. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the book, but I think it has thought provoking ideas how different people think and gives excellent information and philosophy.
Good for motivation, BAD for instruction.......2007-09-19
This book really opened my eyes to the fact that you can't be a wage slave all your life, so thanks for that. BUT, and this is a big but, Kiosaki is at heart a huckster. Research it online and you find "Rich Dad" doesn't exist. Kiosaki made him up. Once you realize this you realize that there's no lessons from a genius entrepreneur/investor but rather the whimsical musings of one man who made his fortune giving speeches and taking people's money in seminars. In interview after interview, he refuses to cite a single real-estate deal or concrete comapny he invested in - it's all nebulous and contradictory, just like his life story. So go ahead, buy a used copy for a buck or two, be inspired, but don't be sucked in. And whatever you do, don't pay for his "Rich Dad Coaching" scam through his website. I would, however, recommend getting the Cashflow 101 game, but NOT 202.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent strategies
- This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down
- It's Not About Being Average
- Did I read the same book as the rest of you?
- If You're a Woman, You Need This Book!
|
This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down
Deborah Collins Stephens ,
Michealene Cristini Risley ,
Jackie Speier , and
Jan Yanehiro
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ASIN: 1573243051 |
Book Description
This Is Not the Life I Ordered is for anyone who has ever felt overworked, overwhelmed, or just plain unlucky (and, who hasn't?!). Through this collection of stories, wisdom, and practical advice, readers will meet four ordinary women who have faced extraordinary life challenges. Together, they have a history of six marriages, ten children, four stepchildren, six dogs, two miscarriages, two cats, a failed adoption, and foster parenthood. Two have lived through the death of their spouses and one was shot and left for dead on a tarmac in Guyana -- which is documented in "Jonestown" airing on PBS' American Experience
This book started simply with four friends getting together for "kitchen-table coaching sessions" to talk about their lives. Week by week and story by story, they realized their great advice to each other could help other women struggling with life's myriad issues of work, family, and love, as well as the big questions of life and death. For over a decade, the power and strength of their collective friendship enabled these women not only to survive but to thrive. They invite readers to join them to learn how they, too, can turn "misfortunate" events into joy-filled opportunities. Readers will want to share this book with every woman in their lives!
* Authors are best-selling business-book author, Deborah Collins Stephens; Emmy winner Jan Yanehiro; State Senator Jackie Speier; and entrepreneur Michealene Cristini Risley whose Flashcards was screened at last year's Cannes Film Festival.
* Authors' support circle includes Debbi Fields, Kristi Yamaguchi, Danielle Steele, Gerry Laybourne, and other power women.
* Features practical "Wit (Women in Transition) Kit" tips at the end of each chapter to help readers to be their own life coaches.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent strategies.......2007-09-12
I found this book to be very helpful as I tried to navigate through a very difficult time in my life. It gave real examples of situations that were much worse than my own, and provided practical ideas for moving forward.
This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down.......2007-08-14
This book is so inspirational! One of the best books I have read! I highly recommend it to all women and men. I plan on getting copies for my family and women friends. Thanks ladies for sharing your life stories and the stories of so many different and unique women. You are all an inspiration! God Bless
It's Not About Being Average.......2007-08-10
Let's face it - we all come to a point where we think, "This is not what I wanted out of life." This book is for anyone who is at that point or has experienced a personal tragedy that has continued to haunt them. Anyone could read this and instantly identify the vast gap between the average American woman and the authors whose personal stories are shared within its pages, but the point of the book is not to point out who has it worse when dealing with bad situations (a new widow in suburbia or a cmpany executive losing a 6-figure income). The point is actually to give you an idea of just how bad things can be and how you can rise above anything. The basic information provided in the "action steps" apply to just about any situation. There are fantastic motivational quotes throughout and excellent ideas for how to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get going again, no matter what your circumstances. Even if you are feeling negative and pessimistic, this book can help you find positivity and optimism from those people and places that already surround you. I have recommended this book to several friends who have already read and enjoyed it just as much as I did. I returned mine to the library and promptly bought my own copy (as well as a few extras for gifts)!
Did I read the same book as the rest of you?.......2007-07-30
I stumbled across this book while doing research for a book I am writing. I actually wanted to use the same title for a collection of humorous essays, and then felt compelled to read this one. I am only halfway through it and am exhausted from slogging through the overabundance of headings and subheadings in each chapter, the overuse of quotations, and the endless posturing and patronizing from unrelatable situations that so few women will ever face - shot in South America while disbanding a cult, crying over the loss of a $200,000 job, escaping the Khmer Rouge. How is an average American woman supposed to connect with these stories? I am sure every woman mentioned in this book is courageous, intelligent and generous. But the disjointed writing and sloppy editing make it a chore to find their true essence and a message to carry with me. I had such high hopes for this book. I am glad now that I merely borrowed it from the library rather than purchased it. I do enjoy the cartoons, though.
If You're a Woman, You Need This Book!.......2007-07-18
I just finished reading "This is Not the Life I Ordered," by Deborah Collins Stephens, Jackie Speier, Michealene Cristini Risley and Jan Yanehiro and all I can say is get this book!
This book touches every human aspect possible and carves out a whole new way of looking at life. It shows the power of connecting with women on all levels. These four authors weave in their life stories as well as countless other women's life stories into a book that will become your inspiration to get through the hard times, define your life, enrich the lives of others and live your life to the fullest.
It's the kind of book that you will buy for your friends so you can connect with them on a newer, deeper level.
It's the kind of book that you will read over and over again to receive a renewed strength, sense of self and desire to do more, be more and have more.
Product Description
Using fresh, wholesome ingredients, this book offers a variety of slow cooker recipes that range from appetizers to desserts. A wealth of practical information on slow cookers and accessories.
Customer Reviews:
Look before you buy.......2007-08-13
Since this is a cookbook, I should have looked through a copy before I purchased. Many of the recipes do not feature a full day of cooking in the crockpot. Therefore, they can't be used on a workday.
A Few great Recipes.......2007-08-08
I made a few recipes from this cook book that turned out great, and another few that weren't great at all. There was a lot of variety and different/new ideas, but it was not ideal for someone that is using the slow cooker to save time. A lot of the recipes involved a lot of ingredients, a lot of pre-cooking things before they went in the cooker, and also additional steps involved during the cooking (ex: after 2 hours turn the slow cooker on low,etc.)... and all of these things make it difficult for the cook who is away all day at work to even attempt. Also, many of the recipes called for short cooking times, like 3-4 hours, and that isn't ideal for a person who is working outside of the home for 9 hours prior to dinner.
Great Recipes - Great Cookbook!.......2007-08-05
I love this book! I recently purchased several cookbooks on slow cooking for use in a class I was teaching and this was my favorite on the subject for several reasons.
I like cookbooks that are organized so that I can find what I'm looking for fast. This book has good organized chapters and a terrific index which makes it possible for me to find whatever I'm looking for in just a few seconds.
I like the variety of recipes contained in this book, over 350 of them, for both the traditional dishes we have always cooked in our slow cookers like soups, stews, chilies, and pot roasts, and also for dishes that I hadn't thought of cooking in a slow cooker like desserts, jams, sauces, and casseroles. Actually, the thing that caught my eye and was one of the main reasons for buying this book was a chapter with instructions on cooking polenta, risotto, grits, rice, and other grains. Once I had prepared polenta in my slow cooker according to the directions in this book, I was hooked! I will never again have to stand over a hot stove stirring polenta for 40 minutes or more; nor will I ever have to stir my risotto or grits either!
I have many cookbooks in my library that are disappointing just because they read like a laundry list of recipes; there are no comments such as what to serve the dish with, or helpful hints, or little blurbs on how the recipe came about. The comments preceding a recipe help me as the reader get a glimpse of the author's reasons for putting the particular recipe in the book, or a description on the recipe such as "this is a hearty thick soup, perfect for a cool evening," or what to serve the dish with. Those comments make the book readable for those of us who enjoy reading cookbooks like novels, and help those who hate to cook decide if a recipe is suitable for their particular purpose. This book has comments preceding every recipe which are very helpful.
I think this book is an excellent choice for cooks of all skill levels. It contains all of the preliminary information a cook needs to begin slow cooking, even for someone who hasn't done it before. It discusses what slow cooking actually is, cooking times, temperatures, cooking at high altitudes, safety, adapting regular recipes to a slow cooker, and numerous other helpful subjects. This book also has conversion charts and it even has a page that lists the manufacturers of slow cookers and their web sites.
The one drawback that I can see for this book is that there are no pictures. Many of us are visual cooks and would like to see what a dish is supposed to look like. That isn't possible with this book, and is the only thing that would prevent me from purchasing several copies for wedding and shower gifts; I feel like gift books are better if they have pictures. I do plan however, to purchase three more copies to give to my daughters; the recipes in this book are so easy and good it may help them avoid stopping for fast food so often and improve the nutrition and health of my grandchildren
Is ketchup a recipe ingredient to you?.......2007-07-19
Your answer to the question will determine whether you like this book. I almost purchased this book, and then found it at the library to look at first. I found 4 recipes that I would consider making. One recipe (but not one of the 4) listed ketchup as a recipe ingredient, and others listed similar prepared processed sauces likely to have lots of sugar. Its probably fine for someone using the crock pot to save time and bother - but I like to know the ingredients, and ketchup doesn't cut it for me.
Start cookin'!.......2007-07-12
This is a great book, but I didn't look close enough. For the price (under $8.00) I was expecting a small book with a few recipes and didn't really review the listing. This is a thick book with a number of categories, including many you wouldn't expect in a slow cooker cookbook. Good book...Great value...Easy recipes!
Amazon.com
The rich are different from the rest of us, if for no other reason than U.S. tax and securities laws allow them to invest in ways that keep us from catching up to them. That's why 90 percent of all corporate shares of stock are owned by 10 percent of the people. Kiyosaki believes it's possible for anyone to move up into that 10 percent, but it takes a different view of investing than most people have: it takes a plan to be a successful investor. And a plan is more than simply buying and selling, or collecting "assets" that bring in no cash and are thus more akin to liabilities. The way most people invest, "they might as well be pushing a wheelbarrow in a circle," he writes. A plan is "mechanical, automatic, and boring," a formula for success that has worked historically for most of those who've used it. Kiyosaki's "rich dad" (actually, the father of his best friend) tells him the simplest analogy is the game Monopoly: buy four green houses, trade them for one red hotel, and repeat until you become rich.
The overall message of Rich Dad's Guide to Investing is that this is an abundant world, full of opportunity for the sophisticated investor. However, it sometimes takes a while to find this point. Much of the book is told in dialogues between young Kiyosaki and his rich dad, and these conversations can ramble. There are rewards for the careful reader--for example, in the middle of a section on the basic rules of investing, Kiyosaki's rich dad compares investor education to toilet training: difficult at first but eventually automatic. But getting to these inspired metaphors means wading through a lot of repetitive dialogue. It's a bit ironic that someone who advocates investor discipline should show so little as a writer. But by the end of the book, even the rambling starts to make sense. By the hundredth time you read that the rich don't work for money, and that you don't need money to make money, both concepts start to make sense. It still looks difficult to apply these ideas, but Rich Dad's Guide to Investing certainly makes the case that they'll work for anyone bold and smart enough to practice them. --Lou Schuler
Book Description
The rich are different from the rest of us, if for no other reason than U.S. tax and securities laws allow them to invest in ways that keep us from catching up to them. That's why 90 percent of all corporate shares of stock are owned by 10 percent of the people. Kiyosaki believes it's possible for anyone to move up into that 10 percent, but it takes a different view of investing than most people have: it takes a plan to be a successful investor. And a plan is more than simply buying and selling, or collecting "assets" that bring in no cash and are thus more akin to liabilities. The way most people invest, "they might as well be pushing a wheelbarrow in a circle," he writes. A plan is "mechanical, automatic, and boring," a formula for success that has worked historically for most of those who've used it. Kiyosaki's "rich dad" (actually, the father of his best friend) tells him the simplest analogy is the game Monopoly: buy four green houses, trade them for one red hotel, and repeat until you become rich. The overall message of Rich Dad's Guide to Investing is that this is an abundant world, full of opportunity for the sophisticated investor. However, it sometimes takes a while to find this point. Much of the book is told in dialogues between young Kiyosaki and his rich dad, and these conversations can ramble. There are rewards for the careful reader--for example, in the middle of a section on the basic rules of investing, Kiyosaki's rich dad compares investor education to toilet training: difficult at first but eventually automatic. But getting to these inspired metaphors means wading through a lot of repetitive dialogue. It's a bit ironic that someone who advocates investor discipline should show so little as a writer. But by the end of the book, even the rambling starts to make sense. By the hundredth time you read that the rich don't work for money, and that you don't need money to make money, both concepts start to make sense. It still looks difficult to apply these ideas, but Rich Dad's Guide to Investing certainly makes the case that they'll work for anyone bold and smart enough to practice them. --Lou Schuler
Download Description
'Rich Dad's Guide to Investing' follows the New York Times bestsellers 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' and 'Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant'. Most of us know that the best investments never make it to market. This book discusses what the rich invest in that the poor and middle class do not. What follows is an insider's look into the world of investing, how the rich find the best investments, and how you can too. Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter show . . .· Rich Dad's basic rules of investing · How to reduce your investment risk · Rich Dad's 10 Investor Controls · How to convert your earned income into passive and portfolio income · How you can be the ultimate investor!
Customer Reviews:
Uri Gofman reviews Rich Dad's Guide to Investing.......2007-08-08
i happen to be a big fan of Kiyosaki. while light on specific acts to do or procedures to follow, this book helps one "think" in a manner that is compatible with creating wealth and success. it is unquestionably inspirational and inspiring. the next step is up to you!
ANOTHER HOMERUN BY RICH DAD!!!.......2007-07-23
Robert Kiyosaki has done it once again!!! Being an avid reader of business/ personal development and finance books for years, I always love reading the Rich Dad books. Robert's style is straight forward, friendly, and highly coversational. Anyone interested in understanding the mindset that one needs to create before beginning their personal conquest down the roads to wealth and freedom should read every Rich Dad book they can get their hands on!
Make Kiyosaki Rich and Yourself a Little Poorer.......2007-06-30
Make Kiyosaki Rich and Yourself a Little Poorer by buying this book. It amazes me how people buy the dream of becoming rich, yet make themselves poor. Kiyosaki certainly takes advantage of this by catering to greed and desire.
Case point: you are reading this book because you are poor. People rich in money and knowledge do not buy his junk.
Interesting read.......2007-05-22
Pros:
- easy to read
- keeps you interested
- you find some good info here and there
Cons:
- too vague about the subject
- repetitive
- too situational to US market
Fine read for a holliday.
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing is EXCELLENT! A MUST HAVE!.......2007-05-22
If you are wanting to find financial freedom, independance, would like to get rich, or just want to be educated on how to manage you finances, this book is for you.
I buy the whole series on cd,and you can fly through them and take notes. It is much easier to learn from the audio than to try to read a huge, long book. I listened to all of these books so far during car trips and during the drive to work. A great way to fill waisted time.
Books:
- Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map: The Leave-Nothing-to-Chance, Worry-Free, All-Systems-Go Guide
- A Hand to Guide Me
- A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
- A Visual Dictionary of Architecture
- America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies
- America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies
- American Cinema/American Culture
- Angels on Sunset Boulevard
- Art of Imagination: 20th Century Visions of Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy
- Before the Dawn (Dark Angel)
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