The One Thing You Need to Know: ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Wisdom
  • A promise kept
  • The One Review You Need to Read
  • In Support of the Revolution
  • Excellent
The One Thing You Need to Know: ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success
Marcus Buckingham
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743261658
Release Date: 2005-03-07

Amazon.com

As a social science researcher and an esteemed business consultant, Marcus Buckingham (First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths) has spent considerable time studying the big picture. This wide-angle approach led him to an unexpectedly narrow conclusion: There is a core concept to even the most complex topic. What he has discovered in The One Thing You Need to Know is that single "controlling insights" exist for a whole range of situations, and when properly applied, can encourage exponential improvement and lead to precise action and results. In applying this concept to managing, leading, and individual performance he has pinpointed the single element necessary for achieving success in each of these three key positions.

Buckingham acknowledges the subtleties of the topic and his goal is "not to make these subjects simpler, merely clearer." And what could be clearer than one thing? The challenge lies in filtering out the nonessential matters and distinguishing "between what is merely important and what is imperative" in order to produce the greatest and most far-reaching effects. In offering advice on how to do this he also details the three things you need to learn about a person to manage them effectively, explains why a lack of balance is a good thing, shows how to identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and discusses which personality traits all great leaders must possess.

Clearly written, informative, and enjoyable, the book aims to motivate readers to act--not just think--differently by providing concrete examples and specific lessons. And it need not be confined to the office--the concepts outlined in these pages can help people feel more fulfilled and productive in all aspects of life. --Shawn Carkonen

Essential Buckingham


First, Break All the Rules

Now, Discover Your Strengths

The One Thing You Need To Know, Audio CD

First, Break All The Rules, Audio CD

Now, Discover Your Strengths, Audio CD

First, Break All the Rules, Audio Cassette

If You Like Buckingham, You'll Love...

  • Jack Welch
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Book Description

Following the success of the landmark bestsellers First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham offers a dramatically new way to understand the art of success.

With over 1.6 million copies of First, Break All the Rules (co-authored with Curt Coffman) and Now, Discover Your Strengths (co-authored with Donald O. Clifton) in print, Cambridge-educated Buckingham is considered one of the most respected business authorities on the subject of management and leadership in the world. With The One Thing You Need to Know, he gives readers an invaluable course in outstanding achievement -- a guide to capturing the essence of the three most fundamental areas of professional activity.

Great managing, leading, and career success -- Buckingham draws on a wealth of applicable examples to reveal that a controlling insight lies at the heart of the three. Lose sight of this "one thing" and even the best efforts will be diminished or compromised. Readers will be eager to discover the surprisingly different answers to each of these rich and complex subjects. Each could be explained endlessly to detail their many facets, but Buckingham's great gift is his ability to cut through the mass of often-conflicting agendas and zero in on what matters most, without ever oversimplifying. As he observes, success comes to those who remain mindful of the core insight, understand all of its ramifications, and orient their decisions around it. Buckingham backs his arguments with authoritative research from a wide variety of sources, including his own research data and in-depth interviews with individuals at every level of an organization, from CEO's to hotel maids and stockboys.

In every way a groundbreaking book, The One Thing You Need to Know offers crucial performance and career lessons for business people at all career stages.

Download Description

"The principal author of the extraordinary bestsellers First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths offers a dramatically new way to understand the art of success. With over 1.6 million copies of his landmark books in print, Cambridge-educated Marcus Buckingham is considered one of the most respected authorities on the subject of management and leadership in the world. Now, with The One Thing You Need to Know, he gives readers an invaluable course in outstanding achievement -- a guide to capturing the essence of the three areas fundamental to professional activity. Great managing, great leading, and career success -- Buckingham draws on a wealth of examples to reveal the single controlling insight that lies at the heart of each. Lose sight of this ""one thing"" and even your best efforts will be diminished or compromised. The author explains the surprisingly different answers to each of these rich and complete subjects. The many facets of great managing, great leading, and career success could be detailed endlessly, but Buckingham's great gift is his ability to cut through the thicket of often-conflicting possibilities and zero in on what matters most, without ever oversimplifying. As he observes, success comes to those who remain mindful of the core insight, understand all of its ramifications, and orient their decisions around it. Buckingham backs his arguments with authoritative research from a wide variety of sources, including his own data and in-depth interviews with individuals at every level of an organization, from CEOs to hotel maids and stockboys. In every way a groundbreaking book, The One Thing You Need to Know offers essential performance and career lessons for businesspeople at all career stages. "

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Wisdom.......2007-09-16

I found Marcus Buckingham's wisdom about great management and leadership to be right on. Having worked in an environment that focused on people's weaknesses as an area for growth, this book was refreshing and pointed to the importance of developing talent and strengths. The examples are about well established people and very intriguing to study.

5 out of 5 stars A promise kept.......2007-08-20

Every book holds a promise. This one holds 3 and keeps 4. Not a bad score.
The book shares with you the secrets of individual success, management, leadership, and successful relationships. Yes, you could wish Marcus threw in the secret of eternal youth - but, I guess, he is still working on it. Good luck, Marcus! Your audience awaits!

2 out of 5 stars The One Review You Need to Read.......2007-07-27

How long should it take you to tell someone the ONE thing they need to know? A whole book? Mr. Buckingham is a promoter - a salesman. Nothing wrong with that but you are not going to achieve enlightenment by reading it. This is just a generation X Zig Zigler. Don't be pathetic and think that a self-help book is going to change your life. That only comes through reflection and personal growth. So, now for free I am going to tell you the one thing you need to know AND I am even going to give you two versions of it:

Version One: Jesus "Do into others what you would have others do into you."
Version Two: Hillel "What is hateful to you do not do to your fellow man."

There are other versions.

It is called the Ethic of Reciprocity. All else is commentary. Now go study.

4 out of 5 stars In Support of the Revolution.......2007-06-02

We've broken the rules and discovered our strengths, now Marcus Buckingham gets to the point by revealing the controlling insights for great managing, great leading, and sustained individual success. In The One Thing You Need to Know, Buckingham provides compelling theories that support his ongoing "strengths revolution." Just as he did in previous books, Buckingham challenges us to "buck" the system of traditional management techniques by encouraging us to identify the strengths in our selves and employees, and cultivate those strengths.

Buckingham introduces the concept of imbalance, suggesting that we stop striving for perfection in ourselves and others. This is counter-productive asserts Buckingham. Instead, we as managers and leaders need to identify our flaws, and then find our "Madison." Buckingham uses the example of the Thomas Jefferson-James Madison team to illustrate his point. Jefferson, a conceptual strategist, loathed public speaking and debate. Conversely, Madison enjoyed debate and his practical, methodical style was effective in dealing with Congress. Each other's strengths complemented the other's weaknesses. Buckingham's theory appears to support a growing trend, as similar concepts have been written about recently in professional journals such as Harvard Business Review's "In Praise of the Incomplete Leader" (February 2007).

If Buckingham appears to get side-tracked at times it's worth the indulgence. Weaving stories and examples into sometimes mundane research and clinical findings helps to support his concepts, and applies his theories to real-life situations. He doesn't just use the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs-types in his examples. Sure, these guys are in there, but Buckingham includes historical figures and average "Joes" to prove the universality of his theories. He admittedly gets off track in the section "What is the One Thing you need to know about happy marriage?" Although far removed from the business world, this section is worth the detour for anyone who is married, contemplating marriage, or in a committed relationship.

Those of us who have ever felt bored, frustrated, or stifled in our careers are now armed with the knowledge and encouragement to make the right decisions and take actions that will best serve our employees, organization, and self. In fact, the biggest challenge may be having the patience to wait for the corporations we serve to join the "revolution."

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2007-04-11

Excellent material. Very well structured and has all the new ideas and approaches for leadership and management. It defines both concepts with good examples and makes it easy to understand the difference between leadership and management. I enjoyed every page.
A Room of One's Own
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • unavailable...
  • A must have
  • A woman's liberation classic
  • a room for what?
  • To get a room of one's own
A Room of One's Own
Virginia Woolf
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0156787334

Amazon.com

Surprisingly, this long essay about society and art and sexism is one of Woolf's most accessible works. Woolf, a major modernist writer and critic, takes us on an erudite yet conversational--and completely entertaining--walk around the history of women in writing, smoothly comparing the architecture of sentences by the likes of William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, all the while lampooning the chauvinistic state of university education in the England of her day. When she concluded that to achieve their full greatness as writers women will need a solid income and a privacy, Woolf pretty much invented modern feminist criticism.

Book Description

Why is it that men, and not women, have always had power, wealth, and fame? Woolf cites the two keys to freedom: fixed income and one’s own room. Foreword by Mary Gordon.

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" A remarkable work in both the history English literary criticism and feminist theory, Virginia Woolf?

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars unavailable..........2007-09-09

after i ordered this book, the distributors let me know instantly that they no longer had the book on shelf, and instantly refunded my account. speedy service is one thing, but keeping the customer informed is another...thanks

5 out of 5 stars A must have.......2007-01-03

A timeless essay not only for women. Good hard binding that will keep. It's a must have if you like English literature.

4 out of 5 stars A woman's liberation classic .......2006-05-23

This is a beautifully written and highly enjoyable exploration of the history of women in writing. It is also a plea for the liberation of women, and their full entrance into the world of Literature. Woolf argues that a woman needs financial independence, a room , that is a space of her own, if she is to be able to truly create. She also needs the kind of access to everyday life that women confined to hearth and home were as she sees it, traditionally denied.
She urges that Woman enter into all fields of writing, and develop in directions they had no opportunity to develop in before.
She also perhaps reflecting on her own experience and nature argues for the androgynous nature of the creator, seeing in Shakespeare, Keats and certainly Proust a strong feminine element.
Woolf anticipates and perhaps in some sense helps creates the vast flourishing of Literature written by women which will come in the decades after her.

4 out of 5 stars a room for what?.......2006-03-14

This essay reunites several works from Virginia Woolf about the right of women to possess a place - a room- to read, write and work, intended that not as domestic work as was usual for women during many times.
This book is very good. The problem with it today is many people uses this work only as a vindicating feminist weapon, while few people has truly read it, but remember, Virginia Woolf wanted that room not for itself, but for a finality: to do an intellectual task inside. Some people forgets this fundamental fact.


5 out of 5 stars To get a room of one's own.......2006-02-17

Woolf's argument that "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction," holds true not just for fiction but for any activity a woman wants to pursue. The early 20th century essay is still widely relevant, and not just in developing countries.

On the reading style, this essay is much more accessible, compared to say `Mrs. Dalloway' and `To the Lighthouse'. Reading it felt like having a conversation with someone who was not just erudite, but also reflected some of my own thoughts and beliefs. Especially as I believe that economic independence and resource availability could be key to overturning the notions of sexual inequality.

Many thanks to Woolf for airing these thoughts and inspiring the rest of us.
Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Warning: Ice is slippery
  • Amazing story of survival
  • BORING BORING BORING
  • Touching the void-a touching story
  • Hard to put this book down once started.
Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival
Joe Simpson
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060730552

Amazon.com

Concise and yet packed with detail, Touching the Void, Joe Simpson's harrowing account of near-death in the Peruvian Andes, is a compact tour de force that wrestles with issues of bravery, friendship, physical endurance, the code of the mountains, and the will to live. Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, Simon Yates, and to "those friends who have gone to the mountains and have not returned." What is it that compels certain individuals to willingly seek out the most inhospitable climate on earth? To risk their lives in an attempt to leave footprints where few or none have gone before? Simpson's vivid narrative of a dangerous climbing expedition will convince even the most die-hard couch potato that such pursuits fall within the realm of the sane. As the author struggles ever higher, readers learn of the mountain's awesome power, the beautiful--and sometimes deadly--sheets of blue glacial ice, and the accomplishment of a successful ascent. And then catastrophe: the second half of Touching the Void sees Simpson at his darkest moment. With a smashed, useless leg, he and his partner must struggle down a near-vertical face--and that's only the beginning of their troubles.

Book Description

Joe Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000-foot peak in the Andes when disaster struck. Simpson plunged off the vertical face of an ice ledge, breaking his leg. In the hours that followed, darkness fell and a blizzard raged as Yates tried to lower his friend to safety. Finally, Yates was forced to cut the rope, moments before he would have been pulled to his own death.

The next three days were an impossibly grueling ordeal for both men. Yates, certain that Simpson was dead, returned to base camp consumed with grief and guilt over abandoning him. Miraculously, Simpson had survived the fall, but crippled, starving, and severely frostbitten was trapped in a deep crevasse. Summoning vast reserves of physical and spiritual strength, Simpson crawled over the cliffs and canyons of the Andes, reaching base camp hours before Yates had planned to leave.

How both men overcame the torments of those harrowing days is an epic tale of fear, suffering, and survival, and a poignant testament to unshakable courage and friendship.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Warning: Ice is slippery.......2007-10-02

Perhaps posting this notice on mountains would prevent exactly the type of incident outlined in this book. If one climbs UP an icy lump of rock, falling back DOWN is certainly one possible outcome. And if there are chasms, yes one will fall into them. Haven't we ever dropped a peanut butter sandwich? Goodness. Anyway, we already HAVE the Discovery Channel. There is simply no need for youngsters to get themselves up to this kind of hijinks, particularly on slippery slopes. Why do you think we use that metaphor? How many books of this sort must I read before the Human Race realizes the outdoors were not meant for us. If we were intended to rush about in the open, why would God have invented the Ritz Carlton. If one must go to areas of natural wonder, one should stay in a hotel like a normal person. Scenery is best viewed from the en-suite television. Remember, there is no room service in nature. And while nature is scenic, it is hell on one's vital organs, not to mention manicures. If one truly wishes to risk life and limb, why not do it for a valid REASON, for heaven's sake. Climbing rocks is the kind of challenge that ants and potato bugs must overcome. Not us, darlings. We are not potato bugs. No, no, no! If one is simply determined to undertake some highly threatening physical activity, fine. But at least make it worthwhile for me. Become my surrogate shopper at the Max Azaria BCBG sample sale downtown, or at the annual Fred Segal sale in Santa Monica. You will have all the danger you crave. Immediate decisions and swift actions are imperative, you will be injured, probably killed. All the thrills of outdoor adventure, but with up to 75% off. If you manage to grab me a pair of gray suede Ferragamo pumps, size 8, the ones with the thin leather piping, at Fred's, lunch is on me, name the place.

Oh, about the book? Well, I DID read some of it, except for parts in the beginning, middle and end. The writer just goes on and on about everything. In a nutshell, they climbed up something covered in ice, they fell down. It was cold. Anyhoo, I don't want to give anything away, but the author DID write the book, so there is your big clue as to the outcome.

Ciao darlings.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing story of survival.......2007-08-14

When two hikers, Joe and Simon set off to climb Sula Grande in South America they had no idea how it would turn out. In the course of the descent Joe is lowered over a cliff by mistake in the gathering clouds. His climbing partner is forced to cut the rope in order for himself not to be dragged over, thus ensuring Joe's death. But Joe does not die. He has a brocken leg and is lodged in a crevace. After houre os harrowing attempts to go up he decides to go down.

This book tells the story of his fascinating survival, his tremendous will to live, his thoughts on death and God, and his realization that only he could get himself free.

An amazing story, one of the most extraordinary survival stories, up their with Alive. A great story of the outdoors that rivals Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. However it may not be quite as good as the documentary on the same story, Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival.

Seth J. Frantzman

2 out of 5 stars BORING BORING BORING.......2007-07-29

i am sorry but i was so disappointed with this book! -i read this book after seeing all the great reviews and i do not understand all the hype- i think the only reason there are so many great reviews is that climbers stick together and have a reverence for eachother so perhaps they don't want to "pan" joe simpson's book- but as far as i am concerned, this book was very poorly written, so slow, so boring, way too technical and such a chore to get through- i didn't understand what all the terms meant and even when looking them up, i still couldn't get a clear picture of what was happening to him- even the photos were of no help- if you are not a climber you will have the same problem- and if you are a climber, you will still find it as i described above less the terminology problems- i didn't find it enjoyable at all- i expected to find it rivetting and interesting and heart wrenching but it was none of the above- and his friend simon yates was so despicable in this book that you just can't believe that joe even talks to him let alone includes his version of events in this book and dedicates the book to him? huh?- it just made no sense- but,
if you do want the greatest true adventure survival story EVER WRITTEN then you ABSOLUTELY MUST read "ADRIFT"- it is BY FAR the greatest true survival story ever written- it is superbly written and you don't have to be a sailor to understand his plight- your heart aches and you feel you are there as he literally drifts across the atlantic in a sinking dinghy for 76 days waiting to be rescued- but he realizes no one is coming to rescue him, so therefore, he must save himself- UNBELIEVABLE- he is an amazing man- now this is an amazing story of survival- i am shocked that touching the void was even put to pen to be honest- this may sound unkind but while i was reading it i kept thinking, "why was a book written about this?" -didn't seem worth writing a book over- (sorry joe- glad you are alive though of course)- i encourage you all to skip this one and read "ADRIFT" instead- UPDATE: i decided to rent the movie "touching the void" from the library to see if the movie made for a more interesting story- well yes it did- it wasn't the best adventure survival movie i have ever seen but it was still infinitely better than the book- and it was nice to see the real joe tell the story- he really lets us into his soul i find and one could see how much this experience has affected him- tears were never far from his eyes- i came away liking the guy- you will not get the same feeling from simon yates, however- if you read his excerpts in the book and watch him in the movie, you will see he is a cold person, a friend you wouldn't want to have- a friend who would leave you to die when you needed him- with friends like that who needs enemies? glad you are safe joe! and i must say it was brave of simon to show his face in the movie- at least he is not denying his role (or lack thereof) in this adventure- to you readers, my advice is to watch the movie over the book-

5 out of 5 stars Touching the void-a touching story.......2007-06-01

Joe Simpson, and Simon Yates are truely admirable and courageous people. The bravery Joe Simpson mantained during his difficult situation is amazing, and an attitude to look up to. His frustration was understandable and the fact he made it was somewhat...a miracle.
Simon Yates was called by many a traitor. He cut the rope when (although he wasn't aware of it) Joe Simpson, alive but not so well, was on the recieving end. People think this is disgraceful but if you watch the film, or read the book you will accept why he did it. You'll also find it took more bravery for him to cut the rope, than stay there in the freezing cold, never living to tell the tale.
The rope is, apparently, a representitive of the bond between the climbers, but really it's just a rope.

5 out of 5 stars Hard to put this book down once started........2007-05-29

This book is well written, very interesting to anyone who has been up on a Mountain in South America or elsewhere. I enjoyed reading this book as a recommendation I had from a British climber on our trip to Cotopaxi in Equador.
Outrageous, Contagious Joy: Five Big Questions to Help You Discover One Great Life
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Easy reading in a very organized format
  • Keep Your Eyes On the Big Picture!
  • Where have all the editors gone?
  • Still reading it and will read it again and again
  • "A Must Read"
Outrageous, Contagious Joy: Five Big Questions to Help You Discover One Great Life
Ed Young
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0425211851

Book Description

LIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST GOOD. IT CAN BE GREAT.

Let noted pastor, author and speaker Ed Young show you how.

Ed Young, pastor of one of the most attended churches in America and host of an inspirational TV show aired in over 150 million homes worldwide, believes that there is a definite path to true happiness. The media glamorizes life as a series of peak experiences and high-adrenaline adventures. But life is not like that, and circumstances are seldom the way people want them to be. Beginning with his five life-altering questions and eye-opening insights, Ed steers readers not only to a better life but to an even greater place beyond happiness that he calls outrageous, contagious joy. This is God's priority for everyone-a great, joyous life with happiness beyond their wildest dreams. Now Ed Young reaches beyond his congregation to share the message with us all.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Easy reading in a very organized format.......2007-05-12

I enjoyed Ed Young's book fresh language and clearly organized ideas. The books is down to earth and applicable to any Christian. It would even be a good tool for evangelism.

5 out of 5 stars Keep Your Eyes On the Big Picture!.......2007-05-07

Apparently, my definition of "glaring errors" is quite different than others. This book is excellent and provides much-needed encouragement, advice, and hope for people today. People who set out to look for errors will always find minute, inconsequential errors in books. Every book has them, because editing on tight deadlines is tough business; and these errors usually do very little to take away from the overall meaning and effectiveness of the book. Pointing these out just keeps people who need to read this book from picking it up and quite possible changing their lives. That's a shame. I've been involved in editing books for many years, and word histories are often difficult to pin down. One book says one thing and another something very different. For "hap," the meanings "chance" and "luck" are essentially the same thing, regardless of the point of origin. By the way, I don't know how much I'd take stock in a review about editing that has such a "glaring" run-on sentence at the end. The subtitle of this book is: Five Big Questions to Help You Discover One Great Life. Let's keep our eyes on the Big picture.

3 out of 5 stars Where have all the editors gone?.......2007-05-04

I am not familiar with Ed Young or his church, but I picked up this book because I, too, believe that Christians should be filled with Joy. Unfortunately, in the first chapter there were two glaring errors that made me question the accuracy of the remainder of the book. First, Mr. Young attributed to Roy Rogers the quote, "Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." Obviously that is a Will Rogers quote - not Roy Rogers. Then a few pages later he asserts that "happiness" comes from the latin word "hap" which means chance. Actually, "hap" was a middle English word for luck. I read the entire book, and I feel that these errors were indicative of the lack of proper editing, which is a shame because the concepts are excellent, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

5 out of 5 stars Still reading it and will read it again and again.......2007-03-02

I just started this book and put it down only to concentrate on my college courses. My plan is to read it through once to get the feel for it then re-read it while interactively doing the exercises. Great book for spiritual growth and for sharing with fellow Christians.

5 out of 5 stars "A Must Read".......2007-01-24

Ed Young has a wonderful gift and that is the ability to reach the minds, hearts and souls of people. He does it with his message during his church services and now has accomplished the same effectiveness through his writing. One can not help but feel the power of God and be uplifted after reading this book. I highly recommend it to all.
Dale Carnegie's Lifetime Plan for Success: The Great Bestselling Works Complete In One Volume
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I would have given this book five stars, had I ever read it.
  • A good read but...
  • New Title Suggestion: How to get laid in 60 minutes.
  • A must have
  • I may be wrong but let us examine the facts
Dale Carnegie's Lifetime Plan for Success: The Great Bestselling Works Complete In One Volume
Dale Carnegie , and Carnegie
Manufacturer: Galahad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  3. The Leader in You The Leader in You
  4. How to Develop Self-Confidence And Influence People By Public Speaking How to Develop Self-Confidence And Influence People By Public Speaking
  5. The 5 Essential People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts The 5 Essential People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts

ASIN: 1578660394

Book Description

Dale Carnegie’s books have sold 20 million copies. This volume gathers two of the unrivaled guru of motivational writing’s best guides in one.

Dale Carnegie’s motivational and practical teachings are as sound today as when they were first written. Bestsellers for more than 60 years, How to Win Friends & Influence People and How to Stop Worrying & Start Living, have taught millions how to achieve the pinnacle of personal and professional success. They’re now together in one must-have volume. How to Win Friends reveals fundamental techniques for handling people, six ways to make others like you, tricks for becoming a better speaker, and how to be a leader. In How to Stop Worrying, Carnegie offers proven formulas for eliminating 50 percent of your business concerns immediately, suggestions for lessening financial fears, ideas for avoiding emotional upset, and much more. It’s the key to exchanging self-consciousness for self-confidence.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars I would have given this book five stars, had I ever read it........2007-01-10

Gods do not want me to know what Dale Carnegie wrote in his book. First time I ordered it, the dimwits from the post office lost the package. By the time that fact became firmly established, Amazon did not have any more copies in stock and issued a refund. I ordered then from one of the Amazon sellers, but few weeks later got another refund. And today, I have received an e-mail, asking me to review few earlier purchases, including this book. The e-mail had a convenient link to the reviewer's page. So, here you go: happy to oblige!

4 out of 5 stars A good read but..........2006-11-03

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was amazing how relevent it still is and how little people truely have changed. This book is a must read. The only complaint I have which prevents me from giving this book a 5 star rating is; a few sermons scattered mostly towards the end of the book. I really didn't appreciate them. After a person gets past this I would recomend this book, and have recomended it to friends with the cautionary comment about the 'sermons'.

4 out of 5 stars New Title Suggestion: How to get laid in 60 minutes........2003-03-26

The very first time I applied these techniques in a bar, I simultaneously made out with 2 gorgeous women. This book has changed my life... What more can I say?

There are, however, some points that must be cleared up before you apply the techniques within this guide.

1.In many cultures, it is considered rude to ask personal questions of a relative stranger. (ex: "what do you do for a living.")

2.In today's legal environment, you may be held liable if you begin an argument by telling your opponent they are correct. (Ex: saying "I'm sorry" at a traffic accident.)

5 out of 5 stars A must have.......2002-09-08

This book was written in the early 1900s and still is very effective today. I found this book to be essentially "priceless". Whatever I describe here would not do justice to what this book deserves.

Believe the other reviews, I bought this book based on them and am very glad I did. Very easy to read, very long but something you do not want to put down.

5 out of 5 stars I may be wrong but let us examine the facts.......2002-01-22

You know this book only got a 4.5 rating which made me curiuos. After scaning through all the review, i found that some actually gives the lowest rating there is to the book. I was upset.

Still it was no surprise that they don't like it. You cannot satify everyone. But then some of this reviews does sound misleading which in turn gets on my nerve.

I mean how many times do you come across a book that does exactly as what its title said? Tecnical book maybe, but self-helps? And how many self-help that put a title so bold as this one in the first place? The thing is,this book delivers. You might have to apply it constantly to be good at it and sometimes it might even be difficult but it delivers.(it takes time)

The other thing is this book doesn't teach you to lie or decipt. Although some may do that after reading the book but then it's not because the book teaches them to be evil, only simply because they are unethical. It is like saying cloning is bad because poeple can use the technology to create an army of super human. Like science, the book doesn't tell how to use your knowledge but only tells you how to do it.

Sincerity. The book does to emphasize on it in order to not confuse its principles as evil. So, why does people still get confuse? As I understand, the defination of sincerity (in virtue terms) means performing something like helping other people
or giving something away with hoping for reward or anything else in return.
So does winning friends. You may become popular or well liked but don't hope for anything in return if you are sincere. It is because of people hoping for too much when applying this principles that they gives 1 star for the book. -sigh-

The other thing I was upset are reviews that like the book but doesn't gives full star for it. Why? Don't they realised that there is no other book like this one?(ok there is another one) Dale Carnegie wrote self-help like how it should be written:
1. Include priciples of successful people.(two years research)
2. 8 years of research through experience of thousands of people.
3. No "the best way to [insert action] for me is this, this, this and so I hope you would follow my style of doing things".
4. An introduction that says "Why do I bother to write another book, and after I have written it, why would you evenbother to read it. Fair question and I shall try to answer them both..."

As Carnegie himself said, this book is not born out of the ivory tower. If you think that there is a better way to write a self-help book, tell me and then find a book that is written that way. Betcha can't.
The First Man-Made Man: The Story of Two Sex Changes, One Love Affair, and a Twentieth-Century Medical Revolution
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Neither one thing, nor the other....
  • Beyond gender (hello hooray)
  • Most people think Christine Jorgensen was the first
  • Understand Transgenderism
  • Spellbinding and fantastic
The First Man-Made Man: The Story of Two Sex Changes, One Love Affair, and a Twentieth-Century Medical Revolution
Pagan Kennedy
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1596910151
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

In the 1920s when Laura Dillon felt like a man trapped in a woman’s body, there were no words to describe her condition; transsexuals had yet to enter common usage. And there was no known solution to being stuck between the sexes. Laura Dillon did all she could on her own: she cut her hair, dressed in men’s clothing, bound her breasts with a belt. But in a desperate bid to feel comfortable in her own skin, she experimented with breakthrough technologies that ultimately transformed the human body and revolutionized medicine. From upper-class orphan girl to Oxford lesbian, from post-surgery romance with Roberta Cowell (an early male-to-female) to self-imposed exile in India, Michael Dillon’s incredible story reveals the struggles of early transsexuals and challenges conventional notions of what gender really means.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Neither one thing, nor the other...........2007-07-02

This is neither a particularly insightful look into the general subject of the transgendered, nor a riveting account of these particular individuals. Much posturing, of the "as he gazed over the deck of the ship, he felt....." variety--describing in only the broadest, most hackneyed terms the inner monologues of personalities more difficult to fathom than most. And the over-hyped "love affair" chronicled between the two transgendered principals proves to be much more smoke than fire.

All these paeans to Pagan are a mystery to me. The book's a bore.

5 out of 5 stars Beyond gender (hello hooray).......2007-06-28

Gay is the new straight and trans is the new gay. Maybe, soon enough, TG will become the neo hippie. All in your mind. Dolly Parton, after all, has had a lot more surgery than Christine Jorgensen ever did. So let us now push further.

Not as emotional or as 'literary' as Chris Beam's Transparent, Pagan Kennedy has nevertheless penned the 1st trans book anyone outside the trans world 'should' read. Trans is coming soon to Hollywood, I betcha, and here's a real contender.

The First Man-Made Man works several themes - history (Hirschfeld, Benjamin, et al.), drama ('burned by the blonde') and ideology (modern ID data necessitated HRT and SRS, which led to mainstream cosmetic surgery) - quite cohesively.

Kennedy's metanarrative is not 'transition' however, but self-actualization via reinvention. Protagonist Dillion's eternal quest (from FtM, then from Oxford Englishman to Tibetan monk) keeps the humanist foundation of this saga transparent - and tendentious.

Kennedy's conclusion that, by today, "gender had become ... a show tune you lip-synched when it matched the secret beat of your own heart" will assuredly infuriate postops (deal, ladies) but it will resound with a bewildered (mainstream) boomer.

Robert Owen, roll over - the new plastic man and woman (and genderfu**er) have arrived, to conquer the universe.

Which sounds about right on time to me!

4 out of 5 stars Most people think Christine Jorgensen was the first.......2007-06-11

This is the story of Laura Maude Dillon, AKA Laurence Michael Dillon, woman, auto mechanic, member of the British peerage, security guard, physician, world traveler, man, and finally religious pilgrim. There are huge gaps in the story, out of necessity since much evidence of what he did at certain times in his life are long gone, but it does tell a story of a troubled person who was relatively openly transgendered in the 1930s and died mysteriously in 1962 in India at the age of 47.

Included was a brief early history of plastic surgery and a lengthy introduction to the only "woman" he appears to have ever loved, a man in transition to a woman. There is also commentary on the British class system and gender roles of the 1940s and 1950s, so this is quite a multifaceted book for being barely 200 pages.

What's this obsession with the word "vertiginous"?

5 out of 5 stars Understand Transgenderism.......2007-05-10

The true story of two sex changes is interwoven with scientific, medical and social history. You'll understand how difficult it is to change genders.

5 out of 5 stars Spellbinding and fantastic.......2007-05-09

The First Man-Made Man is enthralling, as gripping as the most powerful novel, written with exquisite authority and mastery. Rich in fascinating biographical, sociological and medical research, it's as suspenseful as a Hitchcock thriller. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put this gorgeous book down, reading it breathlessly. The characters leap from the page, extraordinary and courageous. Pagan Kennedy takes a subject that might, in less capable hands, be sensationalized, and instead turns it into a profoundly human and moving story about yearning and loneliness, and an intense, existential quest for identity. The restless, searching spirit of Michael Dillon, brave and reviled, is captured vividly. He emerges as a vulnerable person of tremendous grace and dignity. From the posh halls of Oxford to the back of a dingy garage, from a ship sailing across the open seas to a remote Tibetan Buddhist monastery, First Man-Made Man catapults the reader into one memorable man's wild, often hostile, world. This poetic adventure is unforgettable.
Making Your Move to One of America's Best Small Towns: How to Find a Great Little Place as Your Next Home Base
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • A Poor Offering
  • Make that 3 1/2 stars
  • Part of the story
  • A good guide to start
Making Your Move to One of America's Best Small Towns: How to Find a Great Little Place as Your Next Home Base
Norman Crampton
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0871319888

Book Description

For those looking to raise a family in a storybook American town, or a change of pace from hectic city life, this book is the answer.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars A Poor Offering.......2007-08-10

This is not a very good book. 50% of the book is devoted to Mr. Crampton's less than interesting observations of life in a small town. His advice is mostly extremely basic common sense stuff that any normal person should already know. He offers very few interesting insights.

The other half of the book is his list of the 120 best small towns in America. This part of the book is even more weak. It's obvious Mr. Crampton did a lot of internet travel to gather his data as the descriptions are clearly culled from the towns' chamber of commerce websites. He offers zero insight or information gained from him (or someone else) actually visiting / living in the towns and conveying what the towns are actually like.

His ruse is painfully evident as the "more info" listing for each town is merely a link to their respective chamber of commerce website! What "more info" could there be given that the author merely copied the site? Even his internet research was exceptionally lazy.

The book should be titled "A Compilation of America's Best Small Towns' Chamber of Commerce Website Info plus Non-insightful Musings of the Armchair Travelling Author."

And how do the towns qualify as being best? By Mr. Crampton's estimation they must have a highschool, and a hospital, and at least a few other businesses that aren't Walmart. Could the bar be set any lower? With that criteria one could throw 120 darts blindfolded at a map and do just as well as this book.

The book could be fodder for a Garrison Keilor Ketchup skit, "you know June, why don't we retire to the country, find a town with a highschool and live out our days..... Dear, have you been getting enough Ketchup lately..."

A very weak text that I'll be returning to Amazon post haste!

3 out of 5 stars Make that 3 1/2 stars.......2005-03-28

Actually, I would have given "Making Your Move" 4 stars had I found the descriptions of the individual towns more interesting. But, what I did find was a witty style of writing, some laugh-out-loud moments, and some very down-to-earth advice on the pearls and perils of small-town life. One might apply Norm's smart and insightful guidelines to just about any sparsely populated area in the quest for new habitation. So even though his selections failed to fire me up, they did make me realize that I may not be cut out for small-town living after all. And that, in itself, is worth far more than the price of a book. Thanks, Norm, and make that four stars.

3 out of 5 stars Part of the story.......2003-03-12

This book is a good place to start if you're thinking of moving to a town of 15,000 or less. It will point you to many interesting communities. However, having used his previous book to guide my last move, and as a resident of one of the towns highlighted in this book (Grinnell), I can honestly say that data only carries you so far. Crampton could provide readers with a great benefit by lengthening the amount of description and flavor for each town. In particular, one key element missing is the 'dynamic' of a town: is it progressive? conservative? excited about education? quick to vote down taxes and bonds? These elements form the 'culture' of a small town, and believe me, the culture of a small town will be *very* important to you!

3 out of 5 stars A good guide to start.......2003-01-08

As a resident of one of the 120 "best small towns" recommended by Norman Crampton, I was delighted to see Silver City on the list.

While Crampton's book is a good place to start your search for small town living, it is important to realize that each small town offers a unique personality. Some generalizations simply do not apply to Silver City. For example, it is not necessary to join a church (or country club) in order to fit in here. Even a small community like ours has diverse sub-populations: recent retirees, most of whom have some affinity for the arts; old-timers, most of whom are the conservative church-goers Crampton describes; and Hispanic families, many of whom have worked in the mines.

These groups rarely interact, although we usually get along very peacefully. We also have a number of folks who teach at the university -- and we rarely see them around town.

To learn about Silver city, you won't get much information from the Chamber of Commerce or the editor of the newspaper. You'd do better to spend some time hanging out at the AIR cafe, talking to whoever comes in. The morning and afternoon groups are quite different and everyone is friendly.

The author gives some nuts and bolts about each small town. Unfortunately, with the exception of weather, much of this information will change by the time the book is printed. And your decision may well be made by factors that can't be added up.

The best part of the book is the section on economics of small town living. Here, he's right on. You have to budget for travel to a large city now and then. Air travel will be more costly and you need time to drive to a large airport. His view of housing prices seems optimistic. If you move to a desirable city (such as Silver City) expect to pay more for a house than he allows.
And if you move to retire, your economic picture will be quite different. Many newcomers to Silver City are beginning a second career as an artist or writer. Moving without a job is scary -- and I do not recommend it unless you fit the profile I describe in my own book, Making the Big Move.
The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Amusing
  • Making history enjoyable and entertaining
  • You think you've got it rough...
  • Trivial Pursuit circa 1000 A.D.
  • The way school books should be
The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium
Robert Lacey , and Danny Danziger
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  5. Life in a Medieval City Life in a Medieval City

ASIN: 0316511579

Amazon.com

"August was the month when flies started to become a problem, buzzing round the dung heaps in the corner of every farmyard and hovering over the open cesspits of human refuse that were located outside every house."

Although daily dangers were many, housing uncomfortable, and the dominant smells unpleasant indeed, life in England at the turn of the previous millennium was not at all bad, write journalists Lacey and Danziger. "If you were to meet an Englishman in the year 1000," they continue, "the first thing that would strike you would be how tall he was--very much the size of anyone alive today." The Anglo-Saxons were not only tall, but also generally well fed and healthy, more so than many Britons only a few generations ago. Writing in a breezy, often humorous style, Lacey and Danziger draw on the medieval Julius Work Calendar, a document detailing everyday life around A.D. 1000, to reconstruct the spirit and reality of the era. Light though their touch is, they've done their homework, and they take the reader on a well-documented and enjoyable month-by-month tour through a single year, touching on such matters as religious belief, superstition, medicine, cuisine, agriculture, and politics, as well as contemporary ideas of the self and society. Readers should find the authors' discussions of famine and plague a refreshing break from present-day millennial worries, and a very stimulating introduction to medieval English history. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

A vivid and surprising portrait of life in England at the turn of the last millenniuma world that already knew brain surgeons and property developers and, yes, even the occasional gossip columnist. Chapters follow the structure of an ancient calendar, and overflow with such facts as the recipe for a medieval form of Viagra, what clothing was like in a world without buttons, and much more. A standout among millennium books, offering a revealing comparison of the end of the first millennium with the end of the second.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Amusing.......2007-06-25

Lacey's work is a good primer, even useful in a basic undergraduate British history class. However, I would not recommend this for an upper level or graduate level student. Its intention of giving and introduction to social values and practices at the time under consideration is well executed, but that is all it does.

4 out of 5 stars Making history enjoyable and entertaining.......2007-04-23

This is one of the most "readable" history books I've come across. To say that it is entertaining is NOT a criticism, but a compliment. Why does history have to be dry and pedantic in order to have value? I learned more about life at the turn of the 1st millennium than I have in reading a dozen other more scholarly tomes. This is the way history SHOULD be written.

Naturally, it is not absolutely complete and all-encompassing (though, given the dearth of contemporary material, most writings are merely speculation anyway). But it is an excellent starting point. If you are intriqued, the books 7-page bibliography should suffice for additional reading.

5 out of 5 stars You think you've got it rough..........2007-03-29

...then try living in , say, England in the year 1000 A.D.
Although I read this book approximately 2000 A.D.,
I still remember the profundity of the book 6-7 years later.
The author does a fine job of placing the reader within
the circumstances of actually living in the year 1000.
I couldn't help over and over again wondering to myself:
"How could I deal with that?" or "Could I deal with that?"

This book expands the mind as much as any science fiction
book--and this stuff really happened!

The reason I'm reviewing this book is because Amazon
recommended the book because of another book I've ordered.
The fact that I would take time to review the book years
after reading it speaks very well of the book.

Easy to read, yet profound: sounds like a great combination to me.

3 out of 5 stars Trivial Pursuit circa 1000 A.D........2007-01-06

This is not a bad book...easy to read and full of interesting tidbits. If you are doing other reading on Saxon England, as I am, this book gives the period a little flavor.

The book is loosely based around the work calendar, giving you one chapter for each month of the year. Each chapter describes rather superficially the kind of work typically done by farmers and tradesmen that month. The style of the book is very light, covering tidbits such as remedies for various ailments, punishments for various crimes, typical battle formations, and the sign language used by monks living under vows of silence.

One thing this book does not do, however, is live up to its title. In the book's defense, it is deceptively simple---it really does contain a great deal of information. But it covers none of it particularly deeply or in any kind of an organized fashion that might allow you to paint a vivid image in your head of what life was really like in 1000 A.D. Hoping to get that from this book would be like trying to get a sense of life at the turn of the second millenium by reading through the questions and answers in a game of Trivial Pursuit.

4 out of 5 stars The way school books should be.......2006-12-17

If school books were pesented this way, more students would be interested in history. Easy to read, enlightening,thought provoking.
The One that Got Away: My SAS Mission behind Enemy Lines
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Great story!
  • Worth a read
  • The limit of human endurance...
  • comparison
  • good book
The One that Got Away: My SAS Mission behind Enemy Lines
Chris Ryan
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1574881566

Book Description

The British Army's Special Air Service is one of the world's premier special operations units. During the Gulf War, deep behind Iraqi lines, an SAS team was compromised. A fierce firefight ensued, and the eight men were forced to run for their lives. Only one, Chris Ryan, escaped capture or death, and he did it by walking nearly 180 miles through the desert for seven days and eight nights. This story features extraordinary courage under fire, narrow escapes, a battle against the most adverse physical conditions, and, above all, of one man's courageous refusal to lie down and die.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great story!.......2007-07-10

This book is great mainly due to the dangerous background of the mission. Ryan survived for about ten days in a hostile environment while he had to deal with coldness, exhaustion, injuries and starvation. Therefore it is an account of an incredible surviving. Respect for Ryan. His book is a must-read !

5 out of 5 stars Worth a read.......2007-03-27

Not the tale of an inhumanly capable and faultless warrior and all the more compelling for that. Very interesting and informative, a more realistic treatment of events that the McNabb book, or at least more believable.

5 out of 5 stars The limit of human endurance..........2006-01-27

Imagine driving two hundred miles, a long boring journey no doubt. Seems like ages...

Imagine walking it with no food, little water, and freezing temperatures that had already cost the lives of two of the SAS patrol troopers. That's what Ryan did when he journeyed to the Syrian border when the infamous Bravo Two Zero mission fell apart due to bad luck, poor intelligence, and below zero temperatures.

The famous - or infamous - Bravo Two Zero mission was about eight SAS troops that where sent behind enemy lines during the first gulf war. They were compromised early on, and with a fire fight early on, and no communication from headquarters, the men had to evade and escape. Four of the men were captured and tortured in an Iraqi sess-pit of a gaol. Three of the men died, one shot in combat and two died from hypothermia. Only one escaped. "The One That Got Away" is his story...

Ryan had to endure a terrific journey on foot of 200 miles to get to the Syrian border. Along the way, he drills (kills) a few Iraqi soldiers, or guards. He even breaks one's neck, told in squirm-inducing detail:

"When the second man saw me, his eyes widened in terror and he instantly began to run. But somehow, with a surge of adrenalin, I flew after him, jumped on him and brought him down with my legs locked round his hips. I got one arm round his neck in a judo hold and stretched his chin up. There was a muffled crack, and he died instantaneously."

Ryan's spirit comes from a very deep well, and with his SAS training, he pushes on even when he is on the verge of complete exhaustion (towards the end, he starts hallucinating).

Andy NcNab's "Bravo Two Zero" book is about McNab's torture at the hands of his Iraqi captives. Ryan's story is also about brutal pain, but his is self-inflicted as he desperately seeks to escape capture (he loses all his toe nails due to the 200 mile hike, he is on the verge of getting frost bite, he drinks radioactive water, and to finish off bad luck, he nearly gets lynched when he finally gets to Syria).

Ryan comes across as a methodical man. He plays by the book (he doesn't journey during the day - an SAS no-no). His methodical thinking about getting things right sometimes makes the other members of the SAS patrol seem incompetent. That seems a tad unfair (though as the author, and with the slight fact that he was actually there, he may have a right to say what he wants). I think the real incompetence in the Bravo Two Zero mission was the lack of intelligence from the top brass and not the men on the ground (why should you have the cold terrain as the enemy as well as the Iraqis when it needn't be? Shouldn't Intelligence know that the temperatures in Iraqi can drop really low?)

Even if you not a fan of Special Forces you will find this book riveting. People who like endurance will also love this book - for example if you are one of them loons who think climbing Everest in a pair of flip-flops is a great day out, then this book is also for you.

Seriously, I would recommend reading this, especially now when the second Gulf war is still simmering. It gives you a realistic journey on combat that you rarely get with the media. I also recommend McNab's "Bravo Two Zero" as it gives an account of his capture and torture.

4 out of 5 stars comparison.......2006-01-13

this is a fantastic book. the SAS are phenominal. this mission was flawed, and this book is a testiment to the hardcore training and personnel of the SAS. however, to address another reviewer's comments, i fully disagree with the assessement that the SAS are vastly superior to Delta Force. firstly, for a number of years ive had close affiliations with the special operations world, and personally know a great number of both Delta operators and SAS soldiers and have conversed with them greatly on training, tactics, and so forth. no arguement that both are superior to the SEALs, who have always been overrated and hollywood. but the fact is, it is a complete and utter fallacy to state that Delta dont have the training to survive the way this SAS team did. thats absurd. first, delta's founder, charlie beckwith, a green beret who spent time with the SAS, used the SAS unit structure and training criteria as a template for Delta. second, Delta and the SAS are two of the most closely aligned units in the world, with frequent exchanges, putting Delta operators through SAS training and vice versa, as well as executing missions together from time to time. bottom line, Delta is the US military's MOST elite, MOST well trained, and MOST combat experienced unit of the last 25 years. Delta operators and SAS soldiers dont bother with the comparison themselves, because they're of the same caliber and embrace each other. further, the reason Delta has never done what mcnab's team did is because they've never been in the situation, which by the way was caused by MISTAKES. now im not bashing the SAS, even the most elite units make mistakes, Delta has as well. ultimately, these men survived through a undominable will, and escape, evasion and survival tactics, and to assume that Delta does not have this training is ludicrous, not to mention wholly untrue.

5 out of 5 stars good book.......2005-06-14

i think this book is very good.

i was in the SAS and i fought against the IRA.
The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write One--How to Deliver It
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fantastic- a great resource
  • The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write One--How to Deliver It
  • An Excellent Resource for Speakers
  • This is a terrific book!
  • A Must Read
The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write One--How to Deliver It
Richard Dowis
Manufacturer: AMACOM/American Management Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0814470548

Book Description

It's not all in the delivery. Here's expert guidance on how to write a dynamic speech. Splashy slides, confident body language, and a lot of eye contact are fine and well. But if a speech is rambling, illogical, or just plain boring, the impact will be lost.

Now everyone can learn to give powerful, on-target speeches that capture an audience's attention and drive home a message. The key is not just in the delivery techniques, but in tapping into the power of language.

Prepared by an award-winning writer, this authoritative speech-writing guide covers every essential element of a great speech, including outlining and organizing, beginning with a bang, making use of action verbs and vivid nouns, and handling questions from the audience. Plus, the book includes excerpts from some of history's most memorable speeches--eloquent words to contemplate and emulate.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic- a great resource.......2006-01-27

Ultimately, what stays with an audience, is the content of your speech. Richard Dowis, a former journalist and retired senior vice president of Manning, Selvage, and Lee Public Relations provides information to help you effectively collect, organize and shape content into powerful speeches. He urges you to consider first the purpose of your speech, what you really want the audience to walk away with. Then, to fit your purpose into the format and time allotted. You must begin by researching your topic, clarifying your purpose, creating an outline and identifying a strong thesis, or unifying idea. When organizing your speech the most important consideration is that it must be logically organized. He identifies several organizational strategies you can use. For example, Chronological order, the "Big Bang" where a shocking thesis is presented up front, and Cause-and-effect which outlines the causes of a problem, describes its effect and suggests a solution. He also provides the following guidance on writing your speech:

1. Begin Well: Your opening should establish rapport with the audience, set the tone, reinforce your credibility and arouse interest in your subject. 5 categories of opening are: novelty, dramatic, question, humorous and reference/quote.
2. Watch Your Language: Avoid Jargon and overly complex language. Try instead for a simple elegance. Be yourself.
3. Use Proven Techniques: The Rule of Three: Organize related thoughts into groups of three to make them more memorable and dramatic. Anaphora: repeat words or phrases at the beginning of several sentences.
4. When using statistics: make them interesting and meaningful, express statistics in terms your audience can understand, and avoid using too many raw figures in a row.
5. Closing the Speech: use your closing to reinforce your point, or to reinforce the goal of the speech. Most closings fall into seven categories: Summary, Wrap-up, Direct appeal, Thesis, Reference, Inspirational, and Humorous/Anecdotal.
6. Editing: When editing consider content, organization, style, language and grammar.

5 out of 5 stars The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write One--How to Deliver It.......2005-09-09

I originally checked this out at the library and realized I needed it in my reference collection. It's well writen, informative and fun to read. The author walks you step by step through the process of writing a speech to giving it, along with useful tricks of the speech writers trade. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource for Speakers.......2002-10-03

Richard Dowis spends no time lamenting this lost art. Instead he focuses his energy on its resurrection.

Dowis's background in journalism and public relations provided the foundation for his writing a remarkably readable book. His conversational style serves as a model for the language you would want to hear -- and use -- in a speech. Frequent headings and an especially legible font also contribute to the book's readability.

In _The Lost Art of the Great Speech_, Dowis addresses every conceivable aspect of this topic -- from deciding whether to accept a speaking engagement to "leveraging" a speech by converting it to one or more publishable articles. The book takes a holistic approach to speech writing. Chapters follow the process of speech preparation, including delivery as well as crafting. In addition, Dowis discusses topics such as how to write a speech to be delivered by someone else and how to introduce a speaker.

Each chapter includes pertinent excerpts from actual speeches, many taken from the business world, and also includes a full speech or a substantial excerpt of a speech by a well-known person. Many of these speeches have historical significance. Having asserted that "reading and listening to speeches is one of the keys to learning how to write and deliver them," Dowis supplies us with many examples to study.

Dowis devotes several chapters to rhetorical devices that can lift a speech from the respectable to the eloquent. To illustrate how rhetoric can immortalize a concept, he compares several versions of an idea that appeared in speeches by famous Americans.

In addition to a detailed index, _The Lost Art of the Great Speech_ includes two helpful appendices: An Editing Checklist for Speech Writers and Resources for Speakers and Speech Writers.

_The Lost Art of the Great Speech_ is a valuable resource for anyone who might have the opportunity to address a group of people. Although it does not include study questions or practice exercises, it would be an excellent book for a class of high school or college students as well as for adults who are studying independently.

5 out of 5 stars This is a terrific book!.......2001-08-09

Although this book was written for business folk, it serves as a tremendous text for high school students. The suggestions are clear, the models exemplary, and the writing concise. Also, the texts of speeches that end nearly every chapter are well-chosen. AND there's a handy appendix listing resources for speakers and writers.

5 out of 5 stars A Must Read.......2001-05-05

For those of you who don't like text book reads but need the information, this is the book for you. This book gives useful information and useful hints on speech writing and speech giving. It is the best of Speech Communication classes and everyday ideas for the beginner in public speaking and the expert speech writer.

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