5 comments about NLP: The New Technology of Achievement.

1. I am giving this book two stars- but I begrudge it the second one. It has to be two because it DOES contain the information I bought it for. But I wish I could in good conscience give it one single star- or fewer- because on nearly every page, there's something that makes me want to reach through the book and slap the writers.
   
   I don't enjoy books that effuse with frothy enthusiasm so trillingly that it undercuts the information it's supposed to deliver. And I don't enjoy books where the authors seem to be addressing me and my curiosity about the topic in a sugary voice as if I am a Kindergartner.
   
   So I am not enjoying this book. At all.
   
   I wish that before I'd purchased this book I'd seen the dedication page. It reads: "Dedicated to the joyful heart and soaring spirit of every child reaching for a greater world, especially in yourself."
   
   Now, friends- I sincerely hope your heart is joyful and that your spirit soars. But that sugary prose in the dedication would have tipped me off about what was ahead- and I'd have run for the hills. To get to the information, you have to deal with the authors achingly precious hopes for this book to change your life.
   
   Ever have a cappucino that was all foam with only a little sip of coffee at the bottom of the cup? Remember how you raised the paper cup to your lips and there wasn't anything to swig? Remember the sense that you'd just been ripped off?
   
   Yeah. It's a lot like that.
   
   If you like non-fiction delivered to you like a bed-time story, maybe you'll like this book. But if not-- don't buy this book. Run very fast to the next selection.
   
   If I can stop even one person from buying this book, it was worth my time to write this review.



2. This is a great book on how to improve your performance in any area of your life. I've only just started applying some of the ideas and already I notice that I am able to focus better when I study and dragging myself out of bed in the morning is not as difficult as it once was.



3. This book is great in that it not only explains some of the basics of NLP but it also includes 43 different exercises to do while you are reading the book. Most of these exercises can be done quickly and have been, for me, generally quite effective. These exercises are not easy to find online, so it's nice to have them compiled in one place here. For the price of a paperback it's hardly a question as to whether or not you should buy this book, especially if NLP is something that interests you.



4. I do like the author and have heard him on tape and CD before, but this CD set was originally a tape set (we repeatedly hear "on this tape" spoken), and should have been re-done instead of edited.
   
   Some (only some) of the basics of NLP are included here, and if you've ever opened a book or heard a tape about NLP, you probably already know all that's offered on this CD.
   
   Three of us here listened to "NLP," and we all found the constant reference to "tapes" annoying, along with the voices of two people who do a lot of speaking on the second CD. They both sound like they're trying to do cartoon voices, and my husband couldn't stop laughing. Yes, the voices are that distracting.
   
   The author co-wrote a better introduction to NLP years ago, called "Success Mastery With NLP." It's usually available used on tape. Having used NLP since 1976, I really do recommend it as a more useful introduction to the subject.



5. Even though this book meets my criteria for having `fluff', this is still one great introduction book to NLP. The language is down to earth, the exercises are well explained and the authors give a lot of thoughtful advice to beginners.

5 comments about The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything.

1. Clear. Compelling.
   
   This made me realize that my company was dysfunctional due to a clear lack of trust along the lines of the organization. One chart in this book very clearly identified the behaviors and patterns that were a result of the level of mis-trust. I immediately re-directed my energies into building trust-worthy professional relationships with my most-respected co-workers, while explaining the motivation and purpose of my actions. When I left the company, the professional and personal relationships that had the foundation of trust endured.
   
   On my way out, I dropped my copy of this book on my boss' desk. He was a untrustworthy manipulator and it was freeing to make that realization.



2. Nutshell review - A good insight and explanation of how trust amongst colleagues, friends, and family can have positive impact on performance. Suffers from the usual page-filling case-studies to make the requisite number of pages for a book.



3. Great book that can help people get to the bottom of things. If we can't trust each other we both lose! Applies to your company's relationships to your customers and to your vendors as well! Great read and even better information!



4. every entrepreneur must read this book if he or she wants to be successful. We use this book in our retreat as a main theam of teh retreat.
   Thanks Mr. Covey



5. It's been a thought-provoking and interesting book so far. It asks a lot of questions of me that dig pretty deep into my thoughts and feelings - and motivations.
   
   Am I trustworthy? Do I have true, real honesty? Can I be relied upon? Do I surround myself with others who are trustworthy? Am I working on my ethics and honesty to be a better and happier person?
   
   Lots of things about ourselves totally hinge on trust. I had never looked at it from these points of view before. It's an interesting subject and one that I hope will help me get more out of life.
   
   I spend lot of time thinking about integrity and I don't think I do enough work to improve it in myself.
   
   Perhaps now is as good a time to do so as ever!

5 comments about Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller--Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century.

1. This book has great insight into success with any business. It has definitely changed my business in a positive way and has increased my sales just by implementing a few principles.



2. The basics of success haven't changed in at least eighty years, as this book clearly demonstrates. The subject is acquiring wealth but the lessons can be applied to the achievement of any goal in life.
   Young man, young woman, or senior citizen, if you have a "burning desire" for an accomplishment, the path is clearly mapped in this small, easy to read book - but you must follow the instructions and study it like the most important course of your education- it probably is.



3. No doubt before The Secret ...before the books on The Law of Attraction...there was Napoleon Hill in 1937. I have read this book 3 times and it is the book of books in helping you transform your life by seeing your purpose, developing faith anf belief and then getting out of your own way. He may use different words but its all about asking, believing and then receiving to get all you want. Combine this with a fabulous workbook I discovered :Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbookthat guides you thru all his principles and you can't lose. These books have truly transformed my life!



4. While the book's concept intrigued me, it also lost me when Hill started talking about the "ether fields" and telepathy. No amount of "magical thinking" can make someone rich--the best sections of the book are the ones that talk about setting and meeting goals. Even when Hill wrote the book in 1937, pseudo-science such as telepathy had already been debunked. The 21st century updates add new stories but fail to address Hill's unscientific notions of "ether fields."



5. The book that I received has pages with different lengths. So, it doesn't look like a brand new book.

5 comments about Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies.

1. It's a good review of buzz/content/wom. A little too "text booky", Jaffy's book is better.



2. Interesting book, I am not yet finished, but well worth the time time to read.



3. With all the talk about myspace, facebook, and social networking it can be very confusing to try and figure out, how does a business market themselves in this new arena? Do we create a blog, start a myspace page, post videos on youtube? all the above? Charlene does a really good job using realworld case studies and experiences to show how a novice with social networking can potentially benefit from it's uses. By looking at your objectives, the habits of social networkers, and the tools availble this book makes it much easier to make intelligent decisions on paths your business may want to take. Easy to read, I'd highly recommend it.



4. Social networking is here to stay and growing at an amazing pace. Groundswell provides case studies and data from several different industries to highlight the groundswell of new technology that is bursting into and driving the business scene.
   
   Your customers and employees have ever increasing options to enter into public discussion. If you don't yet understand blogs, wikis, and various social network sties, this book explains how these technologies work. Most valuably, it shows how companies can manage the technology to improve customer service, strengthen employee communication and make themselves more successful.
   
   The wave of technology will continue to swell and you don't want to get wiped out by it. This book is a valuable read in learning to master that wave and ride it to success.
   
   Mollie Marti, PhD
   www.bestlifedesign.com
   Author of The 12 Factors of Business Success



5. Groundswell is a very good book if you want to understand modern marketing and customer relationship management. In a world where online accounts for much of everyday life, the way in which companies have to interact with their customers changes. The use of social networks, viral videos, blogs and forums is important. This book really helps to understand, decide what is relevant for a certain situation, and act on this different world.

5 comments about What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful.

1. It's a short quick read and very informative. Goldsmith offers easy tools to put to practice and they work! Add it to your collection of practical books with solutions to implement.



2. Goldsmith's latest book is a terrific read for leaders waking up to the need for change within themselves. A common sense and energizing book, this is perfect for successful people continued growth is threatened because they have become habituated and inflexible... the very habits that have led to their success have become limiting.
   
   Section Two of the book describes twenty habits that make leaders less effective; out of this collection anyone with the slightest inclination towards self-reflection will be able to spot themselves several times over. The remainder of the book offers principles for designing change, involving others in our change processes, and building accountability for doing things differently. While a book isn't a substitute for coaching, this is a great common sense approach to self-coaching, and leaders who read it will find much of value as they take on more responsibility for their own development. Highly recommended.



3. I usually stay away from self-help books like this because they are most often vague, non-specific and fail to give the "real" secret to success. I did gleen a few good ideas from this book but for the most part this book has been written a thousand times before, and like all the others it doesn't remind the reader that the biggest key to success is simply knowing the right people and relying on connections, connections and connections. All other roads to success are, let's be honest, luck, luck and amazingly great good luck, nothing else.



4. This book is an absolute must for high achievers. Typically such people are so focused on their immediate goals, that they miss out on the interpersonal aspects & start to stagnate, for no obvious reasons. The first half of the book will open your eyes to the flaws on inter-personal skills & impact it has on your career. The good part is that there are concrete steps to how to control the situation & get past the shortcomings. It is a very well written book and easy to read. I'm practicing some of the suggested techniques and they work!



5. The book provides advice on how to manage your behavior while building your career in the corporate or business worlds. The book title is a reminder that the behavior that lead you to climb the corporate ladder can at some point be against you.
   
   The book invites you to explore and assess your habits and get feedback from your colleagues at different levels. This will give you a reality check on things that you may be failing and will lead you to fail. The list of twenty bad habitsis a starting point to assess yourself and start re-inventing your self.
   
   Highly recommended book to assess individuals building their professional careers and leadership skills.

5 comments about Now, Discover Your Strengths.

1. The information in the book is very helpful but do not buy the book used if you want to take full advantage of what it has to offer. A majority of the book is centered around the results of their online strength finder accessed with a code in the book jacket that can only be used once.



2. I wish my husband could have read it and used the code. I had gone on a job interview before reading this book and one of the questions they asked me, was what strategies would I use in a certain situation. And all I thought was that is THE dumbest question ever, how am I going to answer that, it all depends, I hate that word strategy.... you get the idea. Then as I was reading through the strengths book, I thought that would be so be ironic if one of my strengths was strategic. Well, sure enough that was the number one answer on my quiz results. So I am still laughing about that. So my strategy is to read through my strengths and understand them well enough and look at where I use those strengths and then try to improve on them. I would have given this 5 stars but since my hubby has to buy his own book, I only gave it 4.



3. The book is very interesting and very effective. The internet test is very accurate. Nevertheless each strength profile should be discussed more in depth. Let's say you get an idea of who you are but you would like to get more of it. Anyway, the price is worth the stuff you find in the book!



4. Nice concept that could have been handled with a 10 page paper. Clearly authors had to have some volume to prove value so they drone on and on and on. Very tedious reading. Then at every turn they continue to try to sell other products or services. The major killer is having an online exam to evalute your strengths; however, the code is only good once - so DON'T buy a used book as your code will be invalid. If the exam is a work related exercise, you'll be forced to buy a new book just for the code. Also, DON'T let your spouse read the book. If you do, they'll want to take the exam and suprise suprise, you would need another new book just to take the test.



5. [As a corporate human resources director, I often work on developing the latent talents and skills of various managers. Years ago, I taught a class where I had each participant to look into a hand-held mirror and ask the question, "Would you want to work for this person?"
   
   This book takes this exercise to a completely different level. To discover your own inner strengths (and weakness) ensures that you will become the very best manager possible. As a fan of First, Break All the Rules, I was very satisfied that this follow-up was as timely and useful as the first book. I highly recommend you purchase a copy of this book for yourself and for all of your managers. Michael L. Gooch, SPHR Author of
   [ASIN:1897326882 Wingtips with Spurs]]

5 comments about Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life.

1. I am grateful to all the reviewers that tried to save money and anxiety and anger for other people or potential readers of this book, by advising against buying it. I find all such comments are very interesting and very inspiring, which are elements you would never find in this book. In particular, I am grateful to the review entitled Show Me the Cheese by Bruce Silveman. It is such a wonderful review which should be published by major newspapers like New York Times and Washington Post. And we can read here for free! This book is an attempt to trash our culture, to put everything valuable we inherited from the past in a dumpster and sell some real garbage as the latest invention of once in a life time. This book and many other books such as the Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Shack, and the book insults God which I don't want to mention here, are all part of effort to show that man can be better off by themselves without the divine guidance of Jesus. Everything in the Western society in the last two hundred years are part of the development of that ideology. Just wait, you will read things worse than this!



2. Forget the little red book by Mao, We have a new mind numbing, thought control written device out there pushed among the working class. As it has been stated before..it truly is sobering that an American of any socio-economic status, level of wealth or educational background would be INSPIRED by this corporate tripe. Here's a thought for the cheese heads out there, has it occurred to you to move the " cheese provider " out of the picture and therefore the total dependence maze?..make your own cheese on further discovery out from the maze that was made specifically to control you? OR...perish the thought...maybe have more choices in your actual consumption other than cheese?
   
   I understand that the book only addresses the need for accepting change but doesn't one's thoughts automatically leap to then who is the change maker?? Part of my offense to this little book is it's simplistic approach to life modifying decisions by OTHERS. Stepping back however, this book speaks volumes for the contempt corporate America has for redefining intelligent thought, decent & breaking linear either/or thinking, coupled with a current generation that turns out more votes for some lounge singer element on TV than in some civic elections in this nation. Unbelievable



3. This is a great book to give you perspective on change. I highly recommend it.



4. this is a great little book that has many applications in life
   who isn't aware that change is our only constant? but this book makes you reflect on how we deal with the changes makes the difference!
   i liked it so much -i ordered the kids version for my grandkids



5. The analogy of mice and little people trapped in a maze is a sadly accurate, insulting, and condescending one. An unintentional commentary on the fuedal system that is corporate America. So the moral of the story is, the powerless need to stop whining and accept whatever those in power choose to do to them. Don't think. Don't question. Don't hope.
   
   Don't buy this book.

5 comments about Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.

1. GTD called it right when it identified broken agreements with self as a source of negative feeling, anxiety, guilt and "disintegrated self-trust". And one cannot be wholly productive when they are nagged by worries of open loops. GTD presents a methodology for remedying this and achieving a "mind like water".
   
   While I still believe in traditional time management principles such as task prioritization, GTD offers some excellent concepts and takeaways: Corralling all your stuff is critical - you can only feel good about what you're not doing ONLY when you know what you're not doing; the notion of Next Actions is simple but invaluable; separating reference and support material from actionable items will keep the system less clogged; the Someday/Maybe list as an outlet for off-the-wall and future tasks; and the four criteria model for choosing actions in the moment works, among others.
   
   GTD makes a strong case for some type of time management or personal organization system. This was my second time through the book and while it was worth the revisit, I wish it gave more specifics on tools; and the lack of mention of Blackerrys and iPhones nearly make the book dated. GTD doesn't offer a panacea; but as David Allen himself states, no system is perfect for tracking projects and tasks, you just need to know you have them and where to find more information. I am looking forward to his upcoming sequel.



2. David Allen gives you specific tasks to organize and streamline your life and business. Do it or drop it - words to live by if you want to eliminate clutter in your office and in your mind.



3. As with most books like this, a great deal of the content is common sense. But as is always the case with me, formalizing it and explaining it is always what I need.
   
   He explains the natural thought process of a project in order to help you get a grasp of what things need to be done in order to achieve your outstanding goals.
   
   He explains why you can't ever relax because you have so much to do, and how to get over that stress so that you can relax during those times you want to relax!
   
   He gives you a system, which you can use as-is or tailor to your personal taste, that essentially guarantees that nothing gets lost, everything gets done and puts you in control.
   
   I know it sounds like an ad, but as I started with, the content is true and makes sense.
   
   Admittedly, I'm still pretty new at this system, and have to improve how I work with it, but so far I am loving it.
   
   Also, if you have a BlackBerry, look for the "NextAction!" software. It's not great software, but it's good enough to follow the system. The main thing that I don't like about the NextAction! is that I find it difficult to manage the tasks in Microsoft Outlook, so I have to stick with Outlook to manage my mail-based tasks and my BB for my non-mail based tasks, but that's not too bad for me.



4. Having heard so much about this management system, I read the book--what a frustrating experience! I was hooked from the beginning and implemented a couple of suggestions with a large party I was then planning and Mr. Allen's suggestions certainly helped me define the ultimate purpose for my party and next actions, and I became much more effective in my preparations. But then I got on to Chapter 3 and following and totally bombed: had I not read this already? And what about these meaningless quotes in the margins that are so distracting? It only got worse and worse as I read on and I became so stressed about all my unfinished business that I lost sleep! I knew from my first experience that there were pearls of wisdom in this book, so I started from the beginning again and discovered that all your really need to read and implement is Chapter 2. So I set up my office as described (without the label maker, I don't need another tool to clutter my desk, and computer-generated labels work very well). Then I started collecting my STUFF and put it in my inbox, mind you, not all of it at once as he recommends, that's what was stressing me out so much. Then I started processing what was in my inbox, and adding to it anything I come across (thoughts or physical stuff). Also, I'm still making daily lists but they're mostly derived from my "next actions" list. The ideas are excellent, but the presentation is not good, this book demoralized me at first instead of energizing me, hence only three stars.



5. I was very satisfied with this purchase, this book takes all the things you already know how to do (e.g., create lists, prioritize, organize), and compiles it into a system which is practical and very effective. I now realize that this is the key step I've been missing in my personal effectiveness and cannot recommend it highly enough.

5 comments about The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich.

1. The key takeaway is about living life to the fullest & having mini retirements early on, instead of leaving it all for the end - something that several books talk about. There are some good insights into outsourcing your life. However, I didn't find the book very practical.



2. This is an amazing book where I rediscovered the fact that life is short and not doing what you love is a waste of precious time. That being said not all jobs are rewarding or satisfying, but the energy and your self expression you bring to that job makes all the difference in the world. The ideas presented in this book are definitely not your traditional ones around the work place. Here Tim Ferris presents a whole new reality of what the work place can and has become for many people. One of discovering ways to work less hours, make more money and spent more time in activities outside of your workplace you like to do, ie traveling. You could say it's all about how you spend your time...quality vs quantity.
   
   In reading Tim's book I was reminded of 2 brilliant authors named Ariel and Shya Kane who also present a non traditional approach to achieving and maintaining enlightenment without the previously conceived approach or need for years of working on yourself. Where you live life with a centeredness and ease no matter what life circumstances arise. The Kane's book titles include "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation,"Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment" and "How to Create a Magical Relationship." I highly recommend all these books. Life is way too short to not be living it as your heart desires.



3. I have almost nothing but praise for this book. My copy is wearing out. This book is excellent and well written, but very easy reading. Tim has led an exciting life and has a ton of passion to see others buy into his way of life. Many of the tips are not just practical and time-honored, but Tim gives step-by-step details of how to achieve what he has achieved. Good stuff, solid "self-help" type of material.
   
   Now the criticism. The section on Automation, which is key to the whole New Rich lifestyle, may lead some people to become disillusioned because it is not as easy as it seems from the book. That said, Tim is the only person out there that gives step-by-step product testing which has been quite effective in helping to narrow some product/service ideas. I have also used them in my 9-5 job to help narrow my marketing focus.



4. I liked it so much I bought both the audio and print versions. I have already begun putting it to use and have gotten tremendous value for a very small investment. I tell everyone they have to read this book!



5. The book's title is provocative on purpose, but Ferriss delivers excellent ideas about life and work. You don't have to agree with everything he says, and you don't have to implement all his suggestions to benefit. For me, the point of the book is to look at your work differently. When you do that, you can make different decisions that will benefit you, as opposed to the instinctive "work, get promoted, retire" plan.
   
   Examples: 1. I was trying to get a management job, to get more money and more power in my company. Now I realize that job would decrease my hourly pay and limit my ability to enjoy life. 2. I want to move to a different city, but fear moving my family, cutting roots, only to get to the new place and realize it was a mistake. Now I'm planning to rent a house in the new city and go live for two weeks or more, doing my job as I normally do. My family will know if they like living there, and my boss's experience of my services will not change.
   
   Is this book for everyone? No book is for everyone. However, most of us have to work and most of us would rather be doing something else. If Ferriss's ideas sound good to you, but you can't implement them now, you can move toward a position where you can implement them. He's realistic about this. He lays out methods for training yourself to work remotely, as well as a detailed plan for negotiating with your boss.
   
   I can't validate all of Tim Ferriss's claims, but I can confirm that some of what he recommends in this book IS POSSIBLE. I'm doing it, and I'm not an internet millionaire or an ivy-league graduate.
   
   I recommend the print version, rather than the audiobook, because of all the URLs he includes for further study. You may want to check out Ferriss's talk at Google, on YouTube. He addresses some of the ethical and moral objections people bring up in the negative reviews here.

5 comments about StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths.

1. The book helps uncover talents related to people's 'DNA', that otherwise could stay undiscovered a lifetime. Recommended.
   
   Could be a magazine article though.



2. This book is excellent and we us it at [..] with all of our Career & Life Coaching clients.
   
   The online profile is invaluable for discovering your 5 key strengths. We make sure that our clients understand that in order to become effective in their careers and life, they must focus on and improve their strengths most of the time. They should only be spending 15% of their time working on their weaknesses. The book describes all the core strengths and the online profile will help you discover your top five.
   
   The online access also includes a membership to the online forums and more!



3. I enjoyed the book and found it to be quite insightful. I'd definitely recommend it. Buyers need to be aware, however, that in order to take the test, you must have a code to use at the publisher's website. Each book has only one code, which means each person who wants to take the test must purchase their own copy of the book. The codes that come with used or borrowed books are probably not valid any more.



4. People often know enough information to draw a proper conclusion, but haven't made the proper connections. When they get the conclusion from someone else, they often get a reaction like "duh! I knew that already; I just never got it until you just said it." This book will give you that reaction. It will identify the top 5 personal paradigms you work with, and gives you strategies and tactics that will help you feature them more productively in your life. You might ask "is that it?" A common question according to the book, but focusing on more than the top five is spreading yourself too thin, as is any focus on avoidance of what doesn't work for you. Aside from my own "duh" factor and curiosity, I felt this book was extremely good at what it does.



5. I am the manager of a large Salon/Day Spa and we purchased a copy of this book for each of our employees. It is helping us learn how to manage each person based on their personality strengths rather than their weaknesses. They are also having a great time learning about each other in a different way. We all have a better understanding of each other.
   I would highly recommend this book.