5 comments about True Success: A New Philosophy of Excellence.

1. I picked it up thinking it was a spin on the voluntary simplicty view of success, but I GOT SO MUCH MORE out of it! It is fantastic! I have had no previous exposure to Philosophy, but this book really has me inspired to look up some of the works written by the people he quotes in it. Tom's idea of "true success" and how to achieve it can be applied to EVERY PART of a person's life--whether it's work, home, family life, community, etc., and still be congruent with a persons values and long-term goals. A REAL WINNER!



2. Tom Morris has accomplished something remarkable in this book. He has made the thinking of the history's greatest minds much more accessable for the everday person (like me). Instead of surrounding philisophy with elitist airs, he focuses on how important it is to apply the great thinking of the past to our everyday lives.

   Morris begins by debunking the popular myth of success. By weaving the thoughts of Socrates and others cleanly into the text he shows quite convincingly that becoming our best selves is the surest path to lasting success. He view is also quite practical - he recognizes that the measure of your life is in what you do, not just what you think. Also, he understands that money is very necessary part of life; it's just not a satisfying goal in and of itself.

   Morris' 7Cs framework is a useful guide to pursuing success. As he points out the path to success isn't always easy. The 7Cs framework is a useful map, especially when you have to navigate the rough spots.




3. This is one of the best books I've read so far this year. Mr. Morris successfully turns reading what is usually quite a dull subject into an enjoyable experience. I'm very encouraged to read his other books.

   At the end of the day one might agree or disagree with some of the ideas presented in the book. However, Mr. should be given all the credit for his abnormal analytical skills and strong ability in combining philosophy, humor and life experience in one book.




4. i try to read 50 - 100 books a year and when i read something exceptional, i want to make note of it.

   I thought True Success was a brilliant book - well organized, well written, fun and substantive.

   It is a road map for personal happiness and fulfillment.

   Frankly, I was surprised that I had not heard of this book before. I just grabbed it one day off a book shelf. In my view, had this book been well promoted by the publisher, it could have been a big best seller - it has all the right elements.

   Buy and read this book as quickly as you can.




5. I am not going into an extensive review other than to say that I have reread this book each year for the past three years. I am giving copies to my adult children and have recommended it my employees. If you are interested in improving your perspective of life and want reach a higher level of self satisfaction and appreciate, then get a copy of this book, unline key phrases as you read, and then reread it on occasion. The only reason I am giving this book a five star rating is they do offer the chance to rate it higher.

4 comments about 29 Leadership Secrets From Jack Welch.

1. There are many books about Jack Welch and all of them show and teach the corporate strategies and tactics this legendary manager implemented while at GE. Most of those titles portrait Welch as the successful business person everybody would like to be. However, I would like to warn the reader that the professional success of famous CEOs cost them their families. It's hard to believe how Welch was able to manage thousands of relations with millions of people at GE, while on the other side he failed on a relation with only one person: his wife. By the way, how many wives has he had??? Is that success??? In which planet???

   Now about the book . . . it's a good title but only read it if you have never before read a title about Jack Welch or GE; if you had, it's more about the same old stuff, and I would recommend your spending your money in a smarter way.




2. Jack Welch is a fabulously successful manager, but most small entrepreneurs are not. They are just getting by on a day to day basis with little planning and are subject to bankrupcy with every crisis. They don't have an MBA, and they don't have time to study the principles that would give them more time. This book is a quick, easy read, it re-aligns their thinking, and gets them on track to success. You can't give your struggling business acquaintances a better gift.



3. This book reminds me of the best seller "Who Moved My Cheese". They are both written in oversized font and are about 100 pages long and both cover simple messages.
   
   If the books were in a regular font they would be 30 pages??
   
   Please do not get me wrong. But it is just a feeling one gets that they have been had, sold a bill of goods which is just a summary with comments for $10.
   
   Somebody has written down a list of XX number of principle ideas or management techniques, and then expanded each idea to fill the 100 (30 real) pages.
   
   It would be almost as effective to just make a list of them on one or two pages.
   
   The upshot of all this is do not buy this book, but by Jack's book "Straight from the Gut", or buy Slater's book: "Jack Welch & The G.E. Way".
   
   I prefer Jack's own book, and to me it beats many more sophisticated business books hands down. Business is not black and white.
   
   Almost every day there is one crisis or problem or another, and Jack's story puts it all together plus conveys the energy and excitement that he brought to the job. Something is lost in the list approach.



4. Do you really think cliches are the "secrets of success?" This is a book to give to someone whom you know won't actually read it.

5 comments about The Republic of Tea: The Story of the Creation of a Business, as Told Through the Personal Letters of Its Founders.

1. This book has been an extremely usful resource to my company. Although my company also started small, Team 5 Technologies, it is now a large corperation. This book helped me understand more about giving the customer what they want, and putting myself in the customers shoes. After all, a company is only worth the value of it's products. With this is mind my good friends, read the book, Nick J. Frost - T5T



2. My thanks to the authors for sharing- honestly, openly and truthfully- what it really takes in business to maximize objectives that include but go beyond the simple pursuit of profit. This is a must read for anyone who wants to launch or scale a socially responsible business venture.



3. I have discovered Tea Mind! The tea is mine. It is now. It is hot. Oh evenness. Oh flow. Oh swallow of presence. I am a zentrepreneur!

   I found a new appreciation for tea in fact before reading this book but now that I've read it I have further confirmed the splendor of this drink and I love coffee too! You have to read this book if you are curious about Tea Mind but you also have to read this book if you are passionate about ideas and need to bring these ideas into the execution stage. Also includes a real business plan - the one used to form 'The Republic;' a living example!

   So much beyond the tea but the tea is enough! Check out their Web site and order their catalog then maybe order some tea and taste it to complete the tangibility of this company's birth.




4. Mel & Patricia Zeigler are geniuses at creating raving fan businesses. They were the originators of the greatest store I've ever been in, Banana Republic. They sold it to the Gap and it is NOTHING like it's former self, which was reminescent of an Indiana Jones adventure complete with jungle headquarters and a jeep.

   This book documents their next venture and details how they developed the business. It is like an adventure as you follow the letters to each other with new ideas.

   If anything, I use this as a model for writing business plans. That's the biggest compliment I can give.




5. If you're in a partnership, starting a business, or just looking for some inspiration to keep you focused on the direction you're going, then buy this book.

   The illustrations and the background "thinking" that are added to the conversation truly give the reader a sense of understanding.

   What I found to be the most interesting is how quickly the entire idea of TROT came together. Within a month of meeting, Mel and Bill had the ideas and the philosophy of TROT down. When it comes down to it, there was very little change from those initial conversations until the final product launched.

5 comments about Impact: How to Get Noticed, Motivate Millions, and Make a Difference in a Noisy World.

1. As of this review, I do not know the author personally however after painfully learning over the years much of what was so generously shared here, I can assure you that after carefully studying this book, this guy definitely knows what he's talking about.
   
   This book can literally save you thousands in misspent time and money by providing you with a high-level road map for carving out your space in the business world. I do wish I had this book 5 years ago!
   
   The only negative with this book is that although I'm truly grateful for what the author did choose to include, the book left me wanting a tad bit as each chapter could easily have been extended to be its own book. Let's hope for many more follow-up books from this author in the years to come.



2. I'm a teacher, software creator, and internet marketing coach. When I got this book from a seminar recently, I thought it would be a nice addition to my library that I would read "some" day when I wasn't so busy.
   
   One day my internet connection went on the blink. I was annoyed, but decided to spend my time productively instead of whining. I chose to read Ken's book, Impact. After all, he had signed it for me at the Masters Seminar in Chicago.
   
   The book captivated me as did the author.
   
   A few pages into the book, I saw my instant messenger pop back up. I had tons of action steps written for the day, yet to be done, but I was not about to put the book down. I was like a sponge soaking up life for myself and my business. I could relate so well to everything he was saying. He gives solid, usable content, not just concepts or fluff.
   
   It is clear that he is an expert marketer because he understands every aspect of marketing-but he especially gets how valuable relationships are to building a true foundation of a successful business.
   
   It is officially on my "must read" list for my internet marketing students.
   
   The book covers crucial information on publicity, psychology, leveraging, launch strategies, building revenue, outsourcing, automating, and much more that every serious marketer should know. The resources inside the book are amazing, but he goes a step further and adds bonus links to resources online for those who want more.
   
   It doesn't matter if you are a new affiliate marketer or own a thriving business-you'll enjoy and benefit from reading this book. You'll thank me later if you just click the order button now. It's that good.
   
   Kristi Sayles
   
   http://SmartAuthor.com
   http://TalkwithExperts.com
   http://SmartAuthorSystem.com
   http://SpecialReportGenerator.com



3. Very informative. Lots of information, resources and guidance. This book is truly a must read!



4. Although this book has a lot of helpful and interesting information, it suffers from a key problem - it doesn't know what kind of book it is. By that I mean that author Ken McArthur seems as if he was at times penning a self-help book, then a very technical how-to book, or was it a how to make a lot of money book, or maybe it was a book warning about the perils of selling an online product, or maybe it was about the difficulties of making a lot of money - wait no, it's an inspirational/motivational book. All these areas are covered to some extent, and give the book a kind of haphazard feel. When you get to an interesting section, it's like driving on an otherwise mediocre scenic tour and suddenly coming upon a really beautiful site.
   
   The book is also at times a frustrating read because McArthur covers important topics on a general level, leaving the reader thirsting for a very specific example. Take online products. Please provide a specific, detailed example. He gets specific at the end when he talks about his online product, but even there it not detailed enough. Maybe this book was really just promotional material to go to his website and buy his product.
   
   Part of me wants to give it a 4, but I think a 3 is more justified because in the end I am left with the feeling that there surely are other authors with more focused things to say.
   
   One last thing - a pet peeve. I really don't like when authors quote themselves in a book. What's up with placing your own quotes in shaded boxes? If something is really quotable, it should be done by readers and not by the authors.



5. Even if you are an advanced and experienced internet marketer, this enlightening book by Ken MacArthur is a must read.
   
   IMPACT has forced me to make a solid and calmed recap of all that I have learned about internet marketing during two years of compulsive purchasing and avid reading of downloadable courses and ebooks (much of the them not worth the price I paid) about this matter.
   
   With his simple, close and clear tone, Ken MacArthur covers all the key matters that you need to know if you want to impact others in a positive way - especially if you want to make your voice listened by thousands with respect and receptivity.
   
   He gives you the keys to make your "impact" system, the rest is up to you... Once you have read the book, don't stop... you must to take actions that Ken has showed you. You should take lots of notes when reading this book.
   
   If you are a beginner in the internet marketing arena, I have no doubt that you will save an important amount of time and money (not like me) if you read this book. I wish it had fallen into my hands two years ago!
   
   Also Ken's teaching goes beyond the mere book. As a continuation of it Ken has a website that contains quality complementary information and resources. As stated on the back cover of the book, Ken offers ... "A free step-by-step guide with hundreds of hours of audio and video instructions to help you create your personal impact plan."
   
   Thanks for writing such a helpful book, Mr. MacArthur.
   
   Alex Perez-Prat

5 comments about ADD in The Workplace: Choices, Changes, and Challenges.

1. Kathleen Nadeau's book ADD IN THE WORKPLACE addresses those issues and problems which arise at work. It gives reliable information, and good suggestions. It not only helps the ADD adult understand and improve his or her work experiences but also gives them a better understanding of ADD and its effects on their lives. It is an easy to read, 'user friendly' book which I recommend to all my adult and college aged clients who are either in the workplace or wanting to get there.

   Thanks Kathleen for writing a great book!




2. In the Annotated Bibliography of "Learning A Living" A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding a Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia, I wrote:

   A comprehensive book, explaining the positives and negatives of ADD in the workplace. The book is written for people who are already working and does not include job hunting informaiton. Personal coping skills and accommodations for employers are described. The book covers possibilities for self-employment, telecommuting, an other ways of "customizing" your own job. Two combinations are covered in separate chapters: women with ADD and people with ADD who also have learning disabilities."

   I would like to add a few other points:

   1. The book is beautifully laid out in an "ADD-friendly" manner that makes it easy to read.

   2. The author speaks in a respectful tone to the reader.

   3. She is very positive about ADD.

   If you have ADD, this book will add to your repertoire of skills in handling work issues.




3. This is a succinct book with a very logical structure/layout, making it super-easy to find your way around. Kathleen Nadeau emphasizes the individuality of people with ADD and how ADD affects people differently, (e.g. when combined with various different personality types. She uses the Myers Briggs type indicator throughout the book - an interesting touch). A necessary accommodation for one ADD-er could be unneccessary or a hinderance for another. Within broad topics, she focuses on specific characteristics/ difficulties of people with ADD.
   
   For example, in chapter 3, on job performance, there are clearly deliniated subsections on specific difficulties, such as:
   -Distractibility: external distractions
   -Distractibility: internal distractions
   -hyperfocusing
   -impulsivity
   -hyperactivity
   -memory problems
   -need for stimulation (intolerance of routine)
   -difficulty coordinating simultaneous tasks
   -etc.
   
   She gives some ideas on how to work with each of these (and other) common ADD difficulties.
   
   Nadeau encourages readers to investigate their personality types and interests, when trying to improve their workplace issues, rather than focussing solely on their ADD symptoms - as these other aspects have an effect on how effective different techniques will be.
   
   This is still a useful book, even though it's almost 10 years old.



4. Don't expect this book to give you the answers to your struggles with ADD in the workplace. This book is not a cookbook on the issue,and it rather encourages introspection to discover who you really are and then take some action: your job has to match your skills and your interests, and it has to be an activity where your downside shows as little as possible. It is the only way to overcome ADD in an easier way and to achieve success. The author shows, with some story telling, different possibilities for different people. Some advice is also given about optimizing performance at work taking into account ADD traits (I wish she had been a bit more comprehensive in this part). Overall a very good book and an important addition to the ADD library.



5. Add In The Workplace: CHOICES, CHANGES, AND CHALLENGES
   This book will really help ADD-affected adults to understand how ADD can affect work adversely. It is a valuable guide to using information about this disorder to choose and/or revise one's work to take advantage of one's strengths, and mitigate the effects of associated weaknesses, in the work arena. As with every good book I've read on ADD, I only wish I could have read it much earlier in my life. Maybe I wouldn't have had to learn EVERYTHING the hard way. People diagnosed with ADD can definitely spare themselves lost time and bad vocational experiences by reading this book.

5 comments about Organized for Success : Top Executives and CEOs Reveal the Organizing Principles That Helped Them Reach the Top.

1. Stephanie proves once again, she's the master of her craft. More than helpful strategies, she also lets us peek inside the surprising world of the top executives, which was informative, surprising and fascinating.
   
   5 Thumbs Up for Ms. Winston!
   
   M. Macauley



2. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read twice - cover to cover, and have picked up several great tips. I've enjoyed better performance and organization based on having incorporated a few changes recommended in this book into my day. Great book! Worth the money.



3. The good point about this book is that it gives practical hints (although many are quite obvious) on organization issues, and therefore not only theoritical but for sure a practical approach on the topic for those needing so. However, I do agree with some other reviewer that points out the book is too much focused on CEO practices only (i.e., meaning you have assistants to delegate tasks)



4. For those of us who are not naturally organized and who need help with ideas that are realistic and proven, Winston's book is a welcomed tool. She just flat does a good job in giving us several solutions to choose from. She does not advocate or lock in to just a single solution. E.g. From PDAs to Index cards in the front pocket...what works best for a particular individual is advocated. The last 20% of the book bogs down a little, but still does not deter from it's overall worth. This is a required book for our church planter interns at the Glocalnet training and NorthWood Church Multiplication Center.



5. You'll find no groundbreaking material in this book, though the initial premise is promising. On the positive side, the author provides a plentitude of real-world examples, by various named CEO's, of how they organize their tasks, their schedules, and their think-tank time. On the other hand, and perhaps this is inevitable in a study of this nature, a significant portion of the suggestions are what any ordinary study on time management would cite. The jacket cover refers to this book as a "groundbreaking guide," but, alas, the groundbreaking has not yielded a sufficient number of nuggets for this reader to consider the expedition time well spent.
   
   The book is well organized, implying that the reader might pick this up as a library book and skim for suggestions relevant to the reader's particular need. Unfortunately, I highly doubt that any reader would return to this book for a refresher on what are mostly well known and often suggested techniques.

No comments about Ultimate Productivity: A Customized Guide to Success Through Motivation, Communication, and Implementation.

5 comments about New Girl On the Job: Advice from the Trenches.

1. 
   I wish I had had access to New Girl On The Job: Advice from the Trenches before applying for my first job. High school did not include work-readiness classes. Our graduation keynote speaker proclaimed that life was so hard we "would not make it, but become long-term failures." He told us we had no chance at all during a time of war in the Mideast and parts of Asia. Unfortunately, many of my class did fail in the workplace, especially the women, because of lack of preparation and support.
   
   Ms. Seligson's book illustrates practical ways to avoid such career failures and how to ensure women's success in the world of work. She took her own horror of being first ill-trained and then fired from her first job, turning it into an effective lesson for new workers. This book arms the new workforce with a strong first step toward success to stand against lack of information and support, discrimination, isolation, and bullying. It took me 20 years to learn this the hard way.
   
   The author thoroughly interviewed workingwomen of all ages in order to create an encyclopedia of experiences, with instructions regarding how to expand the good and stem the tide of the horrific. Information was willingly provided by women such as Soledad O'Brien of CNN's American Morning and the cosmetics tycoon Bobbi Brown, as well as newer recruits on the front lines of the career battle. Hannah pulls no punches: a sense of entitlement, gossip, and see-through clothes are big-time no-no's on the job; but so are bad bosses and sexual harassment. Hannah gives directions, "Takeaway" notes to keep handy, and even the correct language to use at work.
   
   If such books as New Girl On The Job had been available in my earlier years, perhaps our keynote speaker would have said, "Work is serious but rewarding and you must leave part of the child behind and embrace the adult inside yourself. Older workers, both women and men, will be there to help guide you."
   
   Armchair Interviews says: All women in high school, college, or transition from disability, divorce or public assistance will consider this book as gold.



2. Although I'm clearly not in the demographic that this book has targeted -- young women just entering the work force -- I work in an industry that is, by many estimates, 75 percent female.
   
   I found this book to offer good, solid advice that in many cases would apply to new employees of both genders. There is a good chapter on how to deal with a bad boss. Seligson is especially strong when she advises her readers to be unafraid to be self-promoters at the right moment and to "always be thinking beyond your job title."
   
   Seligson tailors some of her advice to specific stereotypes and issues that can disproportionately beset young women. How to fend off romantic advances by a superior is an obvious one; other, less obvious issues include how to stay away from harmful office gossip and how to avoid being "assistant-ized" -- unconsciously placed into a pigeonhole as a useful assistant rather than someone with substantive solutions to business problems.
   
   This book is easy to read and written in a clear, workmanlike style. I can't give it five stars, though, because of some occasional grammatical errors and because of some tone-deafness in matters of language. Seligson recommends that instead of telling a boss that "I'm feeling like I might have trouble meeting my deadline," an employee could say, "I have reassessed my project deliverables." Well, no, don't say that -- not if you want anyone to understand you.



3. I love this book--read it cover to cover and found it hard to put down. It's a must-read for all ambitious young women and an utterly fresh, insightful refresher course for veterans. "New Girl on the Job" is my newest favorite gift list item. Give it to your friends, sisters, nieces, and daughters--I have. We all should have had Seligson's book when we were starting out. Oh, and clearly Seligson is no longer The New Girl. Can't wait to read her upcoming books. ~ Dr. Debra Condren, author of amBITCHous, a woman's guide to reclaiming ambition as a virtue, not a dirty word amBITCHous: (def.) A Woman Who: 1. Makes more money 2. has more power 3. gets the recognition she deserves 4. has the determination to go after her dreams and; founder, Manhattan Business Coaching and the Women's Business Alliance.



4. This book is a great read for young career women. It has excellent advice and is extremely relatable. The interviews with other women in the workforce are fantastic! The workforce examples could have been more diverse. It seemed concentrated on one or two industries. Also each section could have had more descriptions and examples. After each chapter was over, I found I wanted more!



5. Since most reviews were written around May-June 2007, I suspect they were fake. Only the two reviews from September 2007 seem credible, and they give lower ratings than the fake ones. I'm going to check this book out from the library.

5 comments about The Soul of Capitalism: Opening Paths to a Moral Economy.

1. William Greider has written a well informed, sharp critique of capitalism. In this book, he devotes individual chapters to analyzing the dysfunctional ways that capitalism impacts us as workers, consumers, investors, citizens and as human beings. In each chapter, he gives some suggestions about how we can leverage the many strengths of capitalism improve it from within.
   
   Although Greider *does* acknowledge that capitalism has improved our standard of living significantly and lengthened our lives, this acknowledgement is merely a nod; he definitely leans to the left in this book and suggest many interesting ideas for reform. Some of those ideas seem impractical, but he also gives many examples of how some are working successfully today.
   
   Although he is well informed and a fluid writer, some of Greider's arguments and examples seemed one-sided, and this is one weakness of the book. I had wished he could have anticipated obvious counter-arguments and refuted them, instead of leaving them lingering in the readers mind. Nevertheless, his ideas will provide food for thought and an easy, enlightening read.
   
   Some of his main points are as follows. In the chapter on consumerism, Greider notes that despite our material wealth, we're still consumed with the relentless pursuit of "more" - working more hours for more material goods, status goods, or entertainment. Furthermore, companies produce the products we demand in low-cost ways that degrade the environment. To counter this, Greider notes several examples about how organized consumer boycotts have changed corporate behavior more effectively than government regulation.
   
   As workers, our fortunes are tied to the corporations we work for, yet we have little or no say in the big decisions. Democracy stops at the company's door. Vast hierarchies of workers maintain the uneven distribution of money we see in the rest of a capitalistic society. Workers - or "human resources" - are rented by the hour, and those labor costs are often trimmed by reducing healthcare and pension coverage for employees. To fix this, Greider argues for and gives examples of firms with more participatory decision making, employee ownership, and executive accountability.
   
   In the chapter on capital, he notes that corporate investments are controlled by just a small group of executives, investment bankers, and large fund managers. Whether they are serving the stockholders, clients, or investors, this group makes decisions with a heavy emphasis on economic factors, and little or no emphasis on larger social issues or goals. Yet the soft qualities that are hard to put a price on - like dignity, freedom, a clean environment, democratic expression - aren't a byproduct of a strong economy; they are necessary for it, and the fact that they're "priceless does not mean worthless." Thus, Greider believes that when the quest for profits and productivity trumps social responsibility, the economy will suffer. He'd encourage huge pension funds to invest for the long term in socially responsible companies, and cites those that do.
   
   In the chapter on government, Greider highlights the subsidies & other "corporate welfare" doled out by governments. Large corporations on the verge of bankruptcy are rescued by the federal governement (think Chrysler, Savings & Loans, airlines, etc). States compete to draw in new corporations by giving them special tax breaks. Rather than just occasionally intervening in the economy whose direction is set by corporations, Greider believes government should lead more via grand public works projects (Erie canal, the highway system, airports, parks, etc.) or through sweeping social programs (New Deal, etc.) Also, companies that are funded or rescued using tax dollars should spell out exactly what they will deliver to the public in return, or else their corporate charters must be amended to include a social mission.
   
   In a final chapter, Greider notes that we should come up with a collective vision of what kind of society we want, one in which we are more than just consumers and workers striving individually; one in which we are citizens building the society we want.
   
   Overall, I thought some of Greiders ideas were food for thought, some weren't, and some seemed well-intentioned but unworkable. Nevertheless, I found it enjoyable to read, since Greider is a fluid writer since he is a journalist. However, there are other books in a similar vein by economists that argue some of Greider's points slightly better --- in particular, "The Future of Success" by Robert Reich on the work/spend cycle, or "The Affluent Society" by John Kenneth Galbraith on increasing government investment in infrastructure.



2. "One of this book's implicity objectives is to encourage a little impudence, especially among younger people. I do not expect my prose to blow away their caution and skepticism. but I do hope they keep their minds open to the possibility that some of what I have observed may be right and that it speaks to their own experiences and thinking. If so, they need to ask some questions, to entertain more doubts about the system, less doubt about themselves. Curiosity and doubt are the first steps toward action, especially when accompanied by well-earned anger at the way things are."
   
   This book is thought provoking and full of ideas yet is easy to read and stick with. Greider puts forth the concept of pension funds as the "universal owner" of major corporations and thus a possible force to enact changes. He explains how Innovest, a financial advisory firm applies "Eco-Value" ratings to corporations, thus giving investors a tool for positive screening.
   
   I learned that the Nature Conservancy is starting a Center for Compatible Economics which is "trying to create jobs and incomes in order to protect nature". Greider lays out the problems of capitalism and government as he sees them and gives examples of how these problems are being tackled from the bottom up, one person at a time. He encourages us all to step up and contribute to that effort.
   
   This book is well documented, using sources such as Wendell Berry and Paul Hawken and many others.



3. Any ardent supporter of capitalism, at least any honest supporter, should hear alarm bells going off over recent economic trends and developments. Globalization, the rise of sweatshops, Wal-Mart, exploiting illegal immigration for economic gain at the cost of American jobs, and the whole Enron/cooking the books imbroglio that's claimed numerous companies in the past five years all set my teeth on edge. You can throw NAFTA, CAFTA, and reckless deregulation into the mix as well. I'm about as conservative as one can get, and I don't like the way the economy is going--not at all. Maybe I've retained a trace of the liberal sentiment from my youth, but I believe the economic elites of this country are selling us all down the river. That's why I'm happy to recommend William Greider's "The Soul of Capitalism: Opening Paths to a Moral Economy." The author is a liberal, no doubt about it, but many (not all) of the claims and arguments he sets forth in this highly readable tome will smack you in the head with their clarity, sanity, and inventiveness. Greider's book should bear the title, "Common Sense 101: Wake Up Before It's Too Late!"
   
   The main thesis of "The Soul of Capitalism" is, essentially, that the way the current market system operates is unsustainable. A mania for short-term profits over long-term stability, a corporate culture that resembles in no small way medieval feudalism, and the destruction of the environment form the core of Greider's insightful critiques. He argues that the supposedly "free" market is actually presided over by a select elite increasingly invulnerable to democratic processes. The average investor has little say over how executives run companies, whether corporations will operate with their workers' interests at heart, or how a company treats the environment. Only large shareholders and financial analysts have real power, and most of these groups and individuals are far more concerned with making money now than worrying about what could happen fifty years down the road. As for the actual composition and daily functioning of the American corporation, Greider states the obvious by arguing that workers have little to no say in how their employers do business, and are in fact tacitly encouraged to shut up and do their work. His claims that the current market system works night and day to subvert environmental safety need no elaboration.
   
   So what we should we do to take back our markets, improve our workplaces, and ensure that we have land to stand on and water to drink in the future? Turn to socialism, right? Wrong. Greider is a liberal, but he's definitely not a rock-ribbed statist. He believes that capitalism is a great force for humanity that should serve man instead of the other way around. He wants the pension fund managers, who control billions upon billions of dollars in market investments, to exert their influence and bring stability to the economic system. The author also hopes to reform the corporation so that each worker has their own financial stake in the workplace, and he provides several examples of how some companies and venture capitalists have created such entities. "The Soul of Capitalism" examines the environmental issue, and discovers that the best way to guarantee future ecological solvency is to redesign the fundamental tools of capitalist enterprise, i.e. rebuilding the factories and products to operate in more efficient ways that save energy, save money, create less waste, and work as well as, if not better than, current designs. Greider offers several examples of how this process is already underway. It's exciting stuff, no doubt about it.
   
   I liked many most aspects of the book. For someone who probably hasn't held a job in a corporation, he knows the culture with shocking intimacy. We've all worked at places that issue nonsensical rules by fiat while ignore shocking amounts of waste because they won't deign to include workers in decisions. His understanding of the market seems solid as well, especially the increasingly dangerous influence of financial analysts. These sharks, many of whom never held a real job in their lives, not only applaud but also encourage layoffs and other socially damaging policies because they think such things improve the bottom line. I've actually read articles where these dolts grouse because a certain company won't play their slash and burn game. We also know that we harm the environment every time we throw a television set or computer monitor away. Why aren't companies making more ecologically friendly gadgets? Well, they are, but the current market system generally prefers to throw their cash to the big business concerns, the same organizations that have a vested interest in stifling potential competition and innovations that threaten their bottom line. I think it's safe to say that one of Greider's main reasons in writing this book is to throw open capitalism, to make it more democratic in all of its varied aspects.
   
   "The Soul of Capitalism" isn't perfect. While Greider is pessimistic about the government changing the economic system, he's perfectly willing to let them create a sort of "last resort" works program that will act as a safety net for society's poorest members. Uh huh. Sounds an awful lot like a new welfare program to me. Wait until the statist liberals grab hold of that idea! I also had to chuckle over his idea of introducing a course on capitalism in the universities. You want a bunch of Marxists teaching a course on capitalism? Not me. Those idiots in the professoriate have done enough damage already. I'll end with an elaboration on calling Greider a liberal. He is, but he's more a liberal in the classical sense. The author believes in empowering the individual by giving them more choices in how they earn a living, which will ultimately lead to more choices in living a fulfilling life. Sounds like a plan to me.



4. I have never written an Amazon review before, but I wanted to save others from watsing their time and money on such a terrible book. Greider doesn't know anything about how markets acually work or most businesses operate, nor does he have any sense of why wealthy countries can afford to protect the environment. This book is basically a oontinuing rant, repetitive, fraught with emotion but lacking any real argument.



5. This is a book for critics of "Capitalism" not its supporters.
   The sub-title of this book is, "Opening Paths to a Moral Economy". So I interpret the Soul of Capitalism to be concerned with its fairness - the fairness of the economic system.
   Capitalism has never been much on fairness. Capitalism has always been considered more like Mother Nature - the way it is; not the way it should be.
   There are many who consider this to be "fair". If that is the way it is, that's the way it is.
   If this is how you feel don't bother buying this book.
   If you think that the Capitalist system could be improved and made better, then you will probably find this book very interesting.
   Mr. Grieder does suggest in this book that he hopes that it will inspire the younger generation. I hope so too.
   One other thought occurs to me with regards to Capitalism.
   When J. S. Mill was analyzing this particular problem in his "A Theory of Political Economy" he said something to this effect:
   So if we admit that the fundamental rules of economic dogma can not be denied and that we must conform to them in our attempts at earning money and operating our businesses - competition, supply and demand etc. - well so be it. But after we have conformed to these demands and made our fortunes we are then free to do with our incomes and our wealth as we please - and so too are governments who gain their wealth after the fact. There are no economic rules or dogmatic restrictions on how we must spend our money after we have earned it. We are once again in command and fate is once again in our hands.

5 comments about The Science of Getting Rich.

1. This Penguin edition of the Science of Getting Rich also contains Wattles' five-chapter How to Get What You Want. If you're a bibliophile, you'll also appreciate this book's ecru stock, deckle (ragged) edge, and covers that open up to serve as bookmarks.



2. This book was great. It filled the gaps left after reading The Secret.
   At first I was a bit turned off because of the some of the psycho-babble but in the end it was perfect. The author explain concepts well and reinterates points just frequently enough that they became something that I kind of sang along with and now I am putting in to practice everthing that I learned in the book. The book explains our place in the world and that our desire to get rich is ok and even expected. Please take the time to read/listen to the book yourself. It was quick and it won't take anything out of your life it you don't like it. I think it was wonderful.



3. "The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace Wattles is a down to earth & practical book about developing prosperity in your life, in ways that you had never imagined as possible. Clear, concise, providing techniques that you can integrate easily into your day to day life.
   
   A most recommended book that expands on ideas provided in the Secret.
   
   Even better read together with:
   
   NEXUS,by Morrison & Singh,Nexus: A Neo Novel a contemporary Fiction novel that has much wisdom for you to discover.



4. First published in 1910, the firt thing you'll notice when reading this book is the old language. I didn't actually know this when I bought it, and that fact immedietly jumped out at me.
   
   The concepts seem a little out there, and at times a little unrealistic, but they work. The book is all about conditioning yourself to think a certain way.
   
   Read this book, take it to heart, and become rich yourself.
   
   Matthew Overstreet
   http://www.swordwares.com



5. I believe that the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles is a very important book. The concepts in the book help people to recondition their minds and belief systems such that they can choose to stop believing that lack is ok and normal.
   
   In many cases, entire lifetimes are centered around limiting thoughts that don't serve most folks well at all. Often the limiting thoughts come from fear of hoping for something more or better in life because many generations have been disappointed as they lived in the shadow of others' competitive grasp for wealth and thus concluded that wealth was not for everyone. Wallace Wattle's book gives all permission to let go of that fearful belief.
   
   I especially like how the book points out that abundance is wealth and thus wealth is the very nature of all existence and we can choose to accept that that means that abundance/wealth is available to all of existence. When one thinks on that truth things start to make a lot of sense. Simply think a moment about how even a plant produces many seeds or think about the number of sand granules at the beach or even the number of cells in one body.
   
   The book's discussion of how everything and everyone comes from an infinite source of abundant matter puts everything into perspective---we can scientifically agree that all matter is made of the same things (atomic particles) which come from the same source. Now if we can allow our minds to grasp that that means all is for all, not just for some. The book encourages every reader to allow this possibility to become a part of their life.
   
   That is what I really like about the book, it states that all is for all and that the creative mode vs. the competitive mode can be the way we go about living. We don't have to compete for resources once we consider the infinite possibilities of the human mind as an electromagnetic tool of co-creation connected to its power source.
   
   Everyones' mind is an eletromagnetic series of neural pathways with electrical pulses (as all matter is made up of the same). The power source would be the origin of all life. So we can now deduce that all life has access to the same power source and thus can choose to connect with that source to support life and improve the experience of it if we are willing to entertain the possibility that we can use our minds more actively than we tend to.
   
   The section on gratitude is very useful. As humans, it can be easy to lose site of every detail we can constantly choose to be grateful for. The book encourages gratitude as a consistent practice that elevates one's energetic potential and thus improves the experience of life.
   
   The book is very easy to read and really does gives very practical steps to creating a wealth consciousness that produces results. If a reader fills overwhelmed by the amazing implication of the content the reader can read/listen to the book over and over until you 'get it'. I highly recommend the book. For those wondering about the science distinction consider the dictionary definition of science as a proven method arrived at by various means of discovery.