Bolt Books

Internationally recognized Executive Development Expert, James Bolt has edited one of the best collections to date on the trends and future of Executive Development. Drawing from his more than 25 years of experience in the field, Bolt and the contributors provide a wide ranging perspective on both the past and the future of executive development. The articles contributed by both top consultants and internal practitioners overview all of the leading areas in the field including simulations, coaching, action-oriented learning, peer to peer networks and also review such best practices as leader as teachers, building global talent bench strength, creating communities of practice and measuring impact. This is clearly one of the most informative and comprehensive books currently available. It is helpful for both the experienced practitioner and novice alike.

While many collections of this type contain one similar example after another of corporate case studies and programs, Bolt's book provides a more critical view of some of these trends and the business rationale behind them. The chapters on experiential learning and on leaders as teachers for example, provide specific detail on various ways these approaches are used. Bolt and McGrath's chapter on Increasing Speed to Market for Executive Programs describes the innovative concept of Rapid Cycle Design as a method to build line involvement in leadership development and gain quicker and deeper buy in for an executive development effort. The chapter from leadership gurus Jay Conger and Robert Fulmer on succession provides some insights on the use of technology while critiquing competency models and 360° feedback. Also helpful and distinctive is the amount of focus on transferring, measuring and embedding learning in the organization. The chapter by Dulworth and Forcill on peer to peer networks provides success factors needed for these networks which are an often overlooked tool in developing leadership. In these and other chapters, Bolt and his contributors are challenging us to look beyond the typical executive development programs and to examine them in terms of how they connect to the future needs of our leaders and organizations.

Overall, I recommend this book highly. It is broad and comprehensive in its overview of the field yet specific enough to offer practical ideas and takeaways. It does not push any one viewpoint and reflects well on the constructive inquiry that James Bolt has brought to this field for many years.

David Giber, SVP, Linkage, Inc.

Gadoo the Cat is a beloved Armenian folktale, elegantly retold by kindergarten teacher Susan Kadian Gopigian. Simplistic color illustrations bring to life this tale rooted in the Armenian proverb, "The cat which is a cat, will run after a mouse." Two kings are quarreling over the ancient nature versus nurture debate; one king believes that we are what we are born to be, while the other believes that we are what we are taught. To prove his case, the king who believes in nurture over nature trains his cat Gadoo to be a skilled royal attendant; but when Gadoo is called upon to demonstrate her skills, the other king releases a mouse - and bedlam ensues! "The king, with the triumphant air of victory, tweaked his beard and dramatically raised his right hand and proclaimed, 'Aha! Aha! I am the winner! I have proved you are, what you are born!' A cat which is a cat, will always run after a mouse. Do you agree?" Gadoo the Cat is especially recommended as a book worthy of discussion, concerning how the proverb and the folktale came to grow out of Armenian ideas and culture.

The best work I've seen on the subject yet. A must read.

Written by mental health professional Philip Roos, Ph.D., How To Take Charge Of Your Feelings, Your Actions, Your Life is a candid self-help guide keyed to helping the reader identify and overcome automatic reactions to events that relegate humans to little better than the role of powerless robots, unable to shape their own destiny or dreams. Chapters discuss how to take charge of one's own anger, depression, anxiety, actions, self, and overall life, resisting the impulse to let momentary emotion dominate all. "We are never totally in charge. It's a matter of degree. We can increase control of our feelings, actions, and life, using the approaches and tools discussed, but complete control is an unrealistic goal." A handy appendix of do's and don'ts, a bibliography, and an index round out this compendium of tips, tricks, and techniques for attaining genuine freedom of choice in one's life. Highly recommended.

I found this book about 1 year ago browsing through a book store at the World Trade Center. I have now ordered three more copies to give to pastors at my church. I found this book a welcome change from the anti-scientific rhetoric which characterizes some of the Creationist discussion. Mr.Bavinck is critical of the geology of his time, however. It amazes me to think that this book was first written in Dutch a hundred years ago.
While geology is not a strongpoint of this book. The theology which it presents is a based on a thoughtful analysis of the teachings of scripture concerning creation and what it means. At the same time Mr. Bavinck shows the implications of a Biblically-based view of creation in relationship to the thoughts of other scholars both Christian and non-Christian. Mr. Bavinck is solidly rooted in the Reformed tradition.
I would not recommend this book to anyone for whom scholarly discussion is of little interest. The book is quite meaty, and I have had to re-read some sections to grasp the meaning. Some Christian theological concepts are referenced via their Latin labels although you don't need to know Latin. For the diligent reader there is much to gain by reading this book.
The writer assumes a broad understanding of Christian theology. Much can be gleaned from this book, however, by anyone who wants to know more about the goal of creation, heaven, angels, earth, the image of God, human origins, human nature, human destiny and God's Fatherly care.
Mr. Bavinck focuses more on what Creation means rather than on how it happened. He, also, shows, however, that the historical facts of the creation out of nothing by a Triune God, the creation of man in the image of God, Adam and Eve and the fall are critical foundation beliefs for a Christian.
I was amazed to realize that the image of God is only realized in man as a community both in creation and redemption. How many times have I read Genesis and missed this point. Understanding more about the image of God will affect how you relate to people and not just how you argue for the truths of Scripture.
With other materials I used "In the Beginning - The Foundations of Creation Theology" to develop a series of Sunday school lessons on Genesis which were very well-received. If you are going to preach or teach on Genesis or Creation get this book.
Finally, the basic point of the book:
"Of him, through, and to him are all things (Rom. 11:36). On this basis Christian theology almost unanimously teaches that the glory of God is the final goal of all God's works" from page 53 of the book.

Robert Bolt was a prolific and acclaimed playwright and screenwriter. Although he had a lengthy and prolific stage career, he is most remembered for A Man for All Seasons, as well as his screenwriting work -Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, The Mission. And yet, Bolt seems not to be held in particularly high regard, nor taken seriously by most critics; ask anyone to name a play written by Robert Bolt, and you'll be lucky to even get A Man for All Seasons. This is unfair, for Bolt's work contains a plethora of worthwhile, intelligent and interesting themes: the crisis of personal commitment, staying true to one's self, trying to find one's identity, exploration of various dichotomies, and being forced to make nearly-impossible choices - choices which, in many of his works, have impacts on the flow of history itself.

Sabine Prufer's work is a valuable critical analysis. Although hardly perfect, it's generally well-written and does an excellent job of analyzing Bolt's work. Until a better overview of Bolt's work comes along, this will certainly do the trick.

The first hurdle which should be overcome is that the book is a slightly expanded University thesis. This isn't a criticism, merely an observation, and it may throw some readers off. If one is able to get past that fact, you should have little trouble in enjoying it.

Prufer's analyses are pretty much straight and to the point: here is a play/script, now let's take it apart. Prufer's writing style is crisp and curt, her analyses straight and to the point; it's a bit dry, but one might expect that considering its origins. She analyzes not only the themes of the plays/films, but the techniques Bolt uses to affect his dramas. Her film analyses - particularly her exemplary analysis of Lawrence of Arabia, comparing Bolt's script to Michael Wilson's draft - are even better than her theatre chapters. It's very well-written, and if one is interested in critical analysis, it's certainly worthwhile reading.

This book is also invaluable to the Bolt fan as a resource. Prufer analyzes even Bolt's more obscure works - his first play, The Critic and the Heart, which has never been published, his directorial effort, Lady Caroline Lamb, and the TV Movie Without Warning: The James Brady Story. She also compiles an impressive bibliography of articles, reviews, biographies and other works (though strangely she doesn't seem familiar with Adrian Turner's Bolt biography, Scenes From Two Lives).

Prufer only stumbles a few times, and a lot of it isn't necessarily a fault so much as, perhaps, personal preference. Her analysis of A Man for All Seasons, arguably Bolt's seminal work, is disappointing. Prufer does a good job of analyzing the play's use of Brechtian alienation devices and deals with Thomas More's quest for self-knowledge in a general way, but she does little to analyze the play itself. (And why is it that no one writing on that play ever mentions the Spanish Ambassador Chapuys?) Occasionally, what she chooses to focus on is rather eclectic and often puzzling (cf. her chapter on Doctor Zhivago). Her chapters on Ryan's Daughter and The Bounty are also a bit lacking, though to be fair, Prufer was by her own admission not able to access any script copies for those films.

However, these are fairly minor flaws in an overall enjoyable work. As an appreciation of Bolt, Prufer's book is quite impressive; as a resource and bibliography, it's invaluable; as a bit of entertainment, it is quite well-written for a critical analysis. Until a more extensive analysis of Bolt's work comes along, this will more than suffice.

4.5/5

It's an excellent resource for ideas for lectures, class activities. It has handouts that can be copied and distributed to students. A great resource.

Bullen and Bolt write a book which is small, but packed with information. This is a good reference book to carry with you in the field or to stock on your overcrowded shelf.

Well-written, colorful fully formed characters. This is no 2D good vs evil. The villain has depth, complexity, history, heart. Fast-paced, funny, adventure. A good read for any age.. an exceptional chapter book!

Great for entertainment at parties, this fun work is broad fodder for essays and free writes, even thematic use in the classroom.  The author's selections from favorite and noted sources flash timeless words of wisdom to the user.  This slant on her concept of a book of answers is catchy.  Fight the urge to read ahead. A perfect gift for students, book clubs, or anyone who has ever been in a library. -- Ellen