November 17, 2008 12:36 by
AdminThe Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life (2003), Twyla Tharp
One of America's greatest choreographers, Twyla Tharp, shares her insight into the creative process in her sophomore venture into authorship. The best part of The Creative Habit is at the end of each chapter where exercises are prescribed to the content of the corresponding chapter. In between you will find stories primarily from Twyla's experience with musicals and other artistic ventures.
I tend to prefer straight forward talk and therefore found the majority of each chapter to be boring and unneccessary. However, she should be credited with successfully mixing content about a methodical process with interesting narrative. Although I prefer different, readers may find her interspersed examples refreshing especially those that enjoy the inner workings of broadway or fans of the Movin' Out musical.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
October 6, 2008 06:04 by
AdminResults Without Authority: Controlling a Project When the Team Doesn't Report to You
Tom Kendrick's book on project management was worth of 14 green Post-It flags bearing references to valuable information. Results Without Authority is an excellently written book and will serve most anyone as a practical reference for project managers at any level, especially those with a particular title.
Kendrick has compiled 10 chapters a couple appendices of information centered around the concept of controlling a project from start to finish. The first part of the book focuses on the types of control being process, influence and metrics. The second section starting with Chapter 5 goes into the workflow of a project starting with project initiation and ending with project closure touching building control, maintaining control and monitoring control along the way.
Results Without Authority is an excellent book that I recommend. It is written extremely well and presents a great volume of work on a topic that involves most of us.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
September 8, 2008 14:35 by
AdminThe Unwritten Laws of Business (2007), W. J. King
King presents over sixty tips for keeping your job and never jeopardizing opportunities to be promoted along your career path. Chapters cover relationships, behavior and management. Good advice abounds like promote ideas and be aware of personal appearance. I just wonder if exactly 100 pages of advice like this is worth $15. For some people that answer is yes. For people interested enough in the Personal MBA (PMBA), I doubt this level of advice is groundbreaking.
I wish I had more to say about my experience with The Unwritten Laws of Business.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
August 21, 2008 02:15 by
Admin
Bit Literacy (2007), Mark Hurst
To be free of overload and the problems it causes, users must choose to become bit-literate. -Mark Hurst
Bit literacy is an interesting topic in our modern times of dramatic technological change and information overload. I've noticed how new technologies are often adopted for their novelty without consideration to their practical use or their best use, and I've seen how mis-management of information can cause the most efficient of people to drown. Mark Hurst does an excellent job explaining at a low level how technology works and what is means for us. He also goes into some techniques of making effective use of the more widely accepted technologies and ramifications of those less known.
Being in the information technology industry, most of the content was not new as it might be to most people. Despite my expectation to quickly become bored, I didn't. I found his explanations, tips and foresight very well written and to the point, which happens to be one of his own tips. If you are bogged down on a daily basis like most people in the digital world, consider reading Bit Literacy. Throughout your experience, I bet you will gain a better understanding and appreciate for what bits do for us. You might even take advantage of their original intent...to make life easier.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
August 4, 2008 01:28 by
Admin
Little Green Book of Getting Your Way: How to Speak, Write, Present, Persuade, Influence, and Sell Your Point of View to Others (2007), Jeffrey Gitomer
Reading Jeffrey Gitomer reminded me of attending a Zig Ziglar talk where a lot of information was presented to nodding heads, a lot of motivation was conjured, and takeaway was drowned by the overwhelming amount of information. For being such a short book, there is a lot of information there. Luckily, it is organized very well into chapters then into lists, which makes the book a great reference for subjects like presenting, sales and persuasive writing.
Throughout my reading experience, I felt I was reading an informercial for Jeffrey Gitomer. Each list has an extra half point, so the 8 Elements of Persuasion turns into the 8.5 not because one point is half complete, but because Jeffrey Gitomer wants you to remember his unconventional lists. Oh, and it worked. I can't remember what any list was about, but I remember Jeffrey Gitomer had an 8.5, 11.5, 15.5 and 28.5 list of something. I found this annoying along with entire pages devoted to Gitomer quotes, but sort of expect it from someone whose business is himself.
I feel the real meat of the book is found in the first few chapters where he outlines what it takes to be persuasive. Most of these look and feel like common sense, but I think its worth some thought in the context of persuasion. Without further ado, getting your way requires the following characteristics:
-Personal Conviction
-Believability
-Truthfulness
-Value
There you have it.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
July 1, 2008 12:21 by
Admin
Cut to the Chase and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time (2006), Stuart Levine
I absolutely loved everything about Cut to the Chase by Stuart Levine from the metallic blue book jacket to the last chapter. If you are an amateur or professional time manager, I'll bet you will enjoy this book as much as me. Usually, I would say 99 chapters is a little much and I will say it would be tough to remember all 99 rules Levine presents. However, in each chapter he cuts to the chase. The title and content of each chapter packs an incredible amount of insight and entertainment without being watered down. Many topics did not present new ideas to me, but I found those refreshing to have come from such a successful author.
The only critique I have for Cut to the Chase is that several chapters seemed overly obvious, but I realize other readers may find them insightful.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
June 1, 2008 12:03 by
Admin
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (2006), William Zissner
Zissner's ninth issue of On Writing Well proves to be an excellent pick for the Personal MBA reading list for its value as a reference and its mental model content. Different from step by step books like Writing Nonfiction, Writing Well presents an array of concepts subcategorized as principles, methods, forms and attitudes. Zissner takes you through his ideology with interesting stories and examples mixed through over 300 pages of referenced material.
I recommend this book to people interested in the topic. Unfortunately, I was not very interested in it at the time of reading, so most of the stories and examples quickly became convoluted. However, I recognize the value of having this well organized book on my shelf in case I find myself writing and wanting to do it well.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
May 28, 2008 05:03 by
Admin
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), Seth Godin
Too many times I have encountered "Yes Men" and "Jacks of Everything, Master of Nothing". Although being a lifelong learner I dabble in a lot of things, I make it a point to avoid time wasting projects and people, which lends itself to selectivity. I run into people everyday that are reluctant to say "no" to someone or something. Generation X to Millennials are challenged with committment. This book will not solve their eccentricity, but it may get them thinking about it. I believe the problem is heavily rooted in a lack of self awareness, our inability to see the big picture. The Dip by Seth Godin explains knowing when to champion and when to surrender.
The pinnacle of The Dip is a challenge issued to the age-old saying: winners never quit. In 80 quick pages, Godin does not entirely dismiss the old proverb reverbiating from vicarious parents around the world. Instead, he contrasts Vince Lombardi's quote, "Quitters never win and winners never quit" with "Winners quit all the time. They just quit the right stuff at the right time." This is no "how to" book. It merely sheds light on our need to know ourselves in relation to opportunities and relationships.
The underlying theme of the book is selectivity, which reinforces the importance of self awareness. Having the foresight and the guts to quit can make all the difference in the world, but so does knowing when to commit. A short prose near the beginning of the book outlines the chapterless content:
Quit the wrong stuff.
Stick with the right stuff.
Have the guts to do one or the other.
An inaugural experience with Seth Godin after hearing so very much about the chronic writer and author was good...not great. Although Godin's writing style is enjoyable I felt the content of The Dip was well-written common sense. Perhaps it was groundbreaking for some. I left with a handful of elegant quotes reinforcing ideas I have whole heartedly subscribed.
Be the first to rate this post
- Currently 0/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
May 4, 2008 23:41 by
Admin
Can We Do That?: Innovative practices that will change the way you do church (2004), Andy Stanley and Ed Young
Can we share the practices that form that foundation of our organizations? Basically, that is the question Andy Stanley and Ed Young tossed around on a vacation together before co-authoring the book,
Can We Do That? I'll answer the question. Yes.
At some point you will ask, "can we do that" or "can I do that?" Although this book by two of America's most effective church leaders is about the church and for the church, you may identify with the creativity and strategy laid out in 24 chapters. Heavier on church specifics, nuggets of general organizational wisdom can be found through the specifics both authors describe in their different experiences.
The book is divided into four parts:
-
Reaching Out presents ideas and philosophies on reaching the target audience, which is the unchurched person.
-
Ministering to People deals with those people that are engaged. Several specific topics are described in detail and various programs are mentioned.
-
Leading the Church describes how the leadership team is kept on mission and how new leaders are brought on board or developed from within.
-
Getting the Message Across is more specific to leading the larger audience into growing relationships with Christ, keeping focus on the underlying mission and specifically how to approach message topics, timing and preparation.
The way co-authorship is handled in the book is interesting with each chapter constructed in two styles: either around a 50/50 split in perspectives or a 90/10 where one author delivers most of the content. For the 90/10 chapters, either both authors in sync or respectfully disagree. The beautiful thing about co-authorship is while both men have differing strategies they respect each other's mission to bring people into a growing relationship with Christ.
Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people
- Currently 5/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5