Economic-Life Books

Mr He Liyi has written a remarkable book. His account of toiling as a political prisoner and suffering all the excesses of China's Maoist period are as stirring as any survivor's story. He is the Robinson Crusoe of Chinese Communism; cast away in a society that persecuted him for no rational reason-yet he survived. Through intelligence, optimism, guile and pluck he constructed the tools of his survival and his family's survival.
But what make's his account so full of life as literature is his ability to translate into English his Bai minority culture and the Han majority culture of Yunnan province. Lao He ("Old He" as I heard him respectfully called) learned English and so wrote his memoir in English. There is no assimilating translation full of Western clichés that distort and keep an author's mind distant from the reader. This is an immediate, passionate, sad and inspiring story of a man who struggled, survived and triumphed. And its funny. His `great discovery' that kept his family from starving involved stealing from community crapper. In love as a young man he is taken away, branded "An enemy of the people" and doesn't see his sweetheart again for years, until remarkable circumstances bring them together again to save the life of his child.
I stumbled across Lao He on the Internet and sent him an e-mail. His gracious reply was all it took for my son and I to change our China travel plans to cross China on a train to see Yunnan Province and visit Lao He in Dali. After 10,000 miles of travel we got off the local bus a couple of days early at 6 am and wandered into Dali. We were standing in the middle of the street orientating our map and my son said "Maybe we'll see Mr He Liyi. Maybe that's him." The man he pointed at was young, "No he's an old man." An old man walked around the corner. "He probably looks more like that man."
"Are you William and Bazyl?"
He is as remarkable as his book. Anyone who loves literature should read his work, anyone who loves travel should visit Yunnan Province and sip tea in his café.

I was travelling around Yunnan reading my guidebook and came across an entry for a small cafe run by a local author. I wandered into the cafe and met with the author. He was very kind. He offered me a drink and we sat and talked about his cafe and his book. I was fascinated at the posters on the walls and the reviews for his book so I had to buy a copy and find out myself.

I have deep admiration for Mr. He. He suffered so much and yet perservered. I can't find any palpable animosity in his writing toward those who mistreated him. It's just amazing how humble and kind this man is.

If you are interested in Chinese culture, communism, or the Cultural Revolution, you should check out Mr. China's Son. I hardly read but this book really got me on many levels.

I thoroughly enjoy reading about Chinese life. I learn quite a bit about a life away from home! I prefer these types of books that whisk me to different parts of the world, chronologically, socially, and culturally. The lives that other people experience elsewhere are fascinating, and one can become engulfed in the stories. I feel as if the author sat down and TOLD me all about his life, something I didn't know about. Like I had an interesting friend over for lunch. This was a superb book to the end!

I think I vaguely remember seeing this book at some point in the States, before I moved to China. But if I had not walked into the author's coffee shop in Dali (Yunnan Province), I probably would not have read this book.

This book is unique in several respects. First of all, it is written in English by a man who is not a native speaker, using the English he learned in University. That is quite an achievement, given the fact that he was a village peasant who did not have much money, and spent most of his life working in the fields. Another very useful feature of this book is the fact that He Liyi was detained as part of the Anti-Rightist campaign, rather than the Cultural Revolution. He was all but untouched by the Cultural Revolution, but the Anti-Rightist campaign affected him profoundly. I have long been interested in the connection between the two events, because disdain of and even abhorrence for the Cultural Revolution is established orthodoxy in China now, but I am not sure China has ever quite come to terms with the Anti-Rightist campaign.

His detention seems to have broken his spirit. He relays a relationship with three women in this book. The first was the girlfriend he almost married, the second was the "ignorant" village girl he did marry, and soon divorced, and the third was the peasant woman who ultimately became his wife. The first woman disappears early in the book, but the other two figure almost throughout. Only one could be his wife, but the other remained his friend, and the warmth of their friendship underlines the pathos of a life lived in the crucible of a world gone mad.

I was mad at him for marrying his first wife. Then I was mad at him for divorcing her. Then I was mad at him for refusing to take her back. My sense of pathos was brought full circle when he finally married a peasant woman and basically became her servant. Slowly the realization hit me that he really had been "emasculated" by the trauma he had suffered. I have certainly read stories of people who went through greater suffering than he did during his time of confinement. But it is not so much what he suffered, but the complete humiliation of his position, and what it did to his spirit.

Mr. China's Son is a good writer. He writes in a simple, personable style that is fun to read, and very absorbing. The book is full of "Chinglish" expressions, which can be a bit misleading if you don't know a little bit of Chinese. For example, he talks about the point when their son becomes a "big school" student. He gets this expression from the literal translation of the characters. The Chinese word for "university" is daxue. The first character means "big," and the second character means "school." So in a literal sense, the term "big-school" is an accurate translation, but a bit misleading. For native speakers of Mandarin, this term does not produce a picture in the mind's eye of a big school. Rather, it induces a picture of a university, because it is, in fact, the Chinese word for university. The equivalent word in English which produces the same picture for native speakers is, of course, the word "university." So using the term "big-school" makes them sound a little bit like country bumpkins, which they were, but not for that reason.

Still, I do like the Chinglish expressions. They add an interesting dimension to the book, which would be missing if they had been edited out. And the folksy style of Mr. China's writing produces a work which is unique in the English language. It actually becomes a contribution to the language, because he has found interesting ways to phrase things that native speakers may not have thought about, but which are perfectly "legal" in the grammatical sense of the term.

This book is published in the United States, and I don't think it is generally available in China. While I was in Dali, I recommended it to a young Chinese lady, and told her how to get to the coffee shop. She went there, but they would not sell her a copy. They did not actually say that she could not buy it because she was Chinese, but they told her that the book was published in the United States. In other words, it is published for foreigners, not Chinese people. My suspicion is that they are being allowed to sell the book out of their store, as long as they only sell it to foreigners. I don't know that for sure; I am just guessing, but I suspect that this is the case.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in that dark period of China's history. But I want to stress that this book is not just another "complaint" about the evils of the Cultural Revolution. It is a window into the nature of village life in China. Some of it of course, deals with the particulars with the Bai minority culture. But much of it is just a simple story about what it is like to live as a village peasant in China. Read it. It will give you a unique view of the lifestyle of folks who are usually disinclined to write about themselves.

This book conveys so many emotions, from all of this one is left almost numb. But having met the man, He LiYi, I can say that this book is a mirror of the man in real life. All that comes out in this book is so exact, in his mannerisms and gentle voice. He is so unassuming and modest, and does not appear to be capable of such strength and determination. This book lets you see that we are all capable of making a difference if only small. I had no knowledge of this book untill I visited his cafe in Dali, I purchased the book directly from him and now pass it to all who are interested. A truly powerful book full of what these people, the Bai, have had to endure at the hands of the ever present "Mr China".

This story is a well written account of life during the Great Depression! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Nothing to Fear is an amzing book about a boy named Danny who's growing up in the Great Depression. After his firend's family gets evicted there is more trouble. His dad has to go look for work. He promises to be home by Christmas. The hard times are just beginning though. With suicides going on every day and his mother getting sick after having a baby you have to wonder is there really nothing to fear? This is a story you'll never want to put down and read over and over again.

I read this book three years ago, when I was [...], and I really enjoyed it. I had a very basic idea what the Great Depression was, but I didn't really know.
Now, I'm reading it again. I've read it before and can understand it more, and it really is an outstanding book. It's well written, filled with dialogue and conflict, and provided me with different people's points of view on the Great Depression. Now that I'm older, I know what it is, and how it happened, but that actually made the book lose some of it's sparkle. It's still a great book and I would recommend it to anyone 8-12 who wants an insight on the Great Depression through the eyes of a young boy. I would also recommend it to anyone who likes adventure, friendship, and a good read.

Danny Garvey and his family are trying to deal with the hardships of going through the Great Depression. Danny's dad Daniel Garvey decides to leave to look for work because Danny's family doesn't have enough money to support themselves. Weeks pass and Danny, his mother, and, sister wait for a letter from Daniel. Danny's family eventually becomes very close to the Riley family because of the absence of Daniel. Christmas comes and Danny hopes that his dad will make it home for Christmas. Danny's dad doesn't show up and Danny's family is very disappointed. Months go by and there is still no word from Daniel. Then Danny learns that his mother is pregnant and as weeks go by she becomes very sick. Danny's family meets a guy named Hank and he is the one who cares for Danny's sick mother. Danny's mother eventually goes into a coma and Danny finds a letter that tells him that Daniel died. Then one week passes and Danny's mom awakes from the coma and marries Hank. They then have a grand funeral for Danny's dad as the Great Depression finally subsides.



This story's setting is in the neighborhoods of New York City. It is a poor neighborhood and the people do not have any hope of surviving the depression. This story takes place for about a year.


I would recommend this story to anyone because it teaches you a great amount on how people's lives were affected in the Great Depression. This story will make you appreciate the things you take advantage of in life. You should read this book because it is so interesting and is funny at times. This story is very heartbreaking but is one of the most heartwarming stories. I enjoyed this story so much.

I have always thought that the 1930's were the most interesting times in the 20th century to study. So, much was changing in the world and so much in the United States. Danny Garvey, the main character, is a boy who trys to live through these hard times with all the courage he can muster,looking after Ma and little Maureen. His Pa, Daniel , senior is a man torn between staying with his family and looking for a job. Molly, the mother, has to hold together her family and support it at the same time. Maggie, the next door neighbor girl, is as tough as nails and sweet on Danny.Hank, the Okie, comes into Danny's life at a diffucult time to help out. Mr. Weissman is a store owner just trying to make it. Mrs. Riley, Maggies's Mom, raising 7 kids through the Depression and an abusive alcholic husband. This book really captures the Depressiona and the peole who lived through it. Jackie Koller makes this time period real for kids and adults who are lucky enough to pick up her book. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE KNOWN THESE CHARACTERS!!!!

Passion at Work causes me to think about what is not only important in my career but in my life. Lawler poses some thought-provoking questions and then provides a practical and useful process to help us create focus in our career efforts as well as life. The approach has helped clarify for me the next target in my career. I highly recommend it!

Passion at Work is transforming my outlook on work, life and the future. Thich Nhat Hanh -- "We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize". Lawler Kang demonstrates this principle throughout his compelling analysis of how we settle, how we change, and the process that can assist us as a catalyst and a companion on the journey. A must read!

Passion and rage are among the most powerful of human emotions and each is obviously capable of producing extraordinary results, either positive or negative. The happiest people tend to be those who are passionate about both how they earn a living and the quality of life their efforts provide. Conversely, the unhappiest people are those who continuously rage against real (or imagined) grievances in any or even in all of the areas of their lives. In this book, Lawler Kang addresses these and other issues. Specifically, he suggests answers to questions such as these:

1. When am I and/or when have I been I happiest? Why?
2. Doing what?
3. Not doing what?
4. With whom am I and/or with whom have I been happiest? Why?

One of the greatest benefits of this book (and there are several) is the assistance Kang provides so that his reader can measure the gap between where she or he is now, and, where she or he would much prefer to be. He then provides sound, practical counsel on how to close that gap.

At this point, I presume to suggest (and presumably Kang agrees) that many of our wounds are self-imposed, that in our daily struggles to achieve whatever desirable objectives we may have, Pogo was right: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Hence the importance of taking full responsibility for the consequences of our decisions, both past and recent, so that we can then make better decisions henceforward.

Kang carefully organizes his material within seven chapters. Throughout the narrative, he inserts appropriate real-world examples of his key points. I appreciate the fact that, unlike so many other authors of books which address many of the same issues, Kang resists the temptation to be a sophist or evangelist. He correctly realizes that people can sometimes be inspired by others (who are by nature passionate) but only they can motivate themselves. At one point Kang observes, "The most important source of competitive advantage in the twenty-first century will come from individuals and organizations that unleash the power of passion." Quite true, but it should be added that -- more often than not -- individuals and organizations which find themselves at a disadvantage are those which compete against themselves. This is especially true of many of those involved in sales: They are preoccupied with reasons why a prospect could be resistant and are, therefore, reluctant to ask for an order. In effect, they sell against themselves. Of course, there are others (not only ) in sales who seem convinced that "enthusiasm" can compensate for insufficient understanding of a prospect's needs and interests. They demonstrate passion without competence and, on occasion, passion without integrity.

Throughout his book, Kang leaves absolutely no doubt whatsoever that what he recommends must be guided and informed by three "priorities": Passion, of course, but also proficiencies and principles. He insists that two other "priorities" must also be served: a plan which accommodates both one's organization and one's personal life, and, various means by which to verify and validate (i.e. prove) the appropriateness and effectiveness of that plan. These last two "Priorities" (plan and proof) are discussed with rigor and eloquence in Chapter 10. This chapter, all by itself, is worth far more than the cost of the book but should not be read until after the previous nine.

In the next chapter, Kang responds to a question many readers will pose after absorbing and digesting the material provided to that point: "Now what?" Let's assume that his reader is determined to begin a new (albeit perilous) "journey" to achieve career and personal goals once assumed to be unattainable. Much of the preparation has by now been completed but Kang correctly alerts his reader to the fact that several "canyons" await and one's "journey" through and beyond them can be completed only if unnecessary "baggage" is cast aside along with any guilt associated with it. Kang: "Make friends with your past." Only closure can release the emotional energy needed to continue. Next, the canyon of finances. Kang offers several suggestions as to how to "make friends with your future." That is, financial as well as emotional "baggage" must be eliminated. "The thought of working your passion, however you define it, without having [BOTH] a tactical [AND] a financial plan in place is simply unthinkable." With regard to third and last "terrifying, dimly lit, and dust-ridden corridor called `The Unknown,'" having a sufficient and sustainable commitment to completing the journey is absolutely essential. I suspect (only a suspicion) that, for most people, this last "canyon" is the most difficult.

As I read the final chapter "Looking for Your Life's Work," I was reminded of the marathons in Boston and New York which also require rigorous and extensive preparation, both psychological and physical. Hopes are high as the race begins. As it proceeds over time, most participants drop back and some drop out, exhausted and discouraged. Those who complete the course may feel exhaustion but also a sense of achievement, whatever their final standing. Another marathon awaits. In so many respects, our lives consist of a sequence of cycles as does marathon competition. Kang seems to be suggesting that getting through the three "canyons" and then locating one's life work is indeed admirable but by no means the end of the "journey." New "baggage" will be acquired which must eventually be discarded; new financial issues will emerge which must be resolved; and we will encounter new "canyons," hence the importance of passionate and thorough preparation as well as passionate and total commitment to proceed through each of them.

As Kang concludes his book, he shares a Japanese saying, shoga nai, which literally means "There is no other way." As he explains, it is usually uttered with the guttural seriousness of a Samurai warrior and the existentialism of a kamikaze pilot. By now Kang has stressed the importance of sharp focus, strategic timing, constant iteration of core principles, "and most importantly, patience. There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. It is this undercurrent of patience to which you must fundamentally commit as you start edging closer to living in the prime of your life." To those about to begin this journey, I join Kang in wishing them bon voyage!

I also highly recommend Michael Ray's The Highest Goal, Jim O'Toole's Creating the Good Life, and David Whyte's The Heart Aroused.

Lawler Kang is here to help if you're feeling unhappy or unfulfilled in your career. His "Five Ps" self-examination process arises from his philosophy that, since "you don't get nine lives" like the fabled feline, you must live each moment to the fullest. Life is too short to stay in a boring job. You've probably heard these ideas before, but Kang's exercises and checklists may help you to act on them. His style is sincere, but overeager and jargon-ridden, and the peculiar, hard-to-read typeface exacerbates his confusing tendency to trip on his own clichés. We suggest that people who are feeling inextricably stuck in unsatisfying careers will find it worthwhile to transcend these drawbacks. Kang may be able to start you on a journey to fulfillment and happiness.

Looking for inspiration, I picked up this book and found much needed encouragement to enjoy my latest job search. Now I look forward to what I might discover, find, and/or create. Mr. Kang has helped me expect to find more than a "job" and to get out there and find a "life" and I have to say the journey just got a whole lot better.

As I read Retirement RX, I learned more about my own strengths and weaknesses in creating the retirement adventure I began 2 and a half years ago. The basic research by Drs. Fritz and Jim gives rich, rock solid evidence of how important the 8 traits to a highly successful retirement are andhow they work to create the life we desire. I enjoyed the "test" and felt pleased with scores that make me know I'm headed in the right direction. Having read and enjoyed the book so much, I intend to use it as a reference and guide to keep my priorities where I want them to be. I strongly recommend reading it for those getting ready to retire and those already on the path. I have given copies to friends to help them enjoy a "happy, rest of their lives." Thanks docs, its a winner.

This is a great primer on retirement, though retirement is truly a misnomer as the authors indicate. This period of life is less about leaving a career behind and more about transitioning to a new phase in life. The two Dr's view retirement as a "second career" and should be viewed as the "business of living well". This period of life demands just as much planning, forethought and implementation as your first career. The 8 Traits of Successful Retirement help articulate the process and enables one to develop their own plan for the golden years. The book is realistic and looks at the 4 phases of retirement. As you age and your health and abilities diminish, your attitude needs not when you have a plan and purpose. I really appreciated the emphasis on engaging your spouse in the process and tackling the future as a team. A great book, well researched, insightful anecdotes and helpful in creating a game plan for the 2nd half of life.

Excellent book. Very wise; filled with excellent advice and opportunties to self-assess preparedness for retirement.

Excellent book. One of the few that focus on the non-financial aspects of retirement. Because the authors base their recommendations on the extensive research they have done, it adds to the credibility of their recommendations. This book is a must read for anyone beginning to plan for retirement, who just retired or have already entered retirement. They include a great tool (retirement quiz) that provides a way to monitor how effectively you are adjusting to and enjoying this phase in your life.

I read this book with new thoughts on looking at our retirement objectives. It gave me new ideas on how we could use our time but more important it was very emotionally supportive to enjoying life. It also reduced my fear of facing our older years especially fear of getting ill. THEN- using our strengths to fight illness and possible disabilities.

This is an excellent book to read to help anyone to live a life of significance. It challenges the reader to go beyond where they are in life to run the race with committed abandon. Highly recommended

Tim Irwin's radical idea of running beside son while outrunning the bulls in Spain didn't actually sound that interesting at first; but after hearing from so many people who loved this book I decided to check it out and I'm so glad I did. It's a quick read built around three key concepts... which the author then takes and develops through 7 more principles. The three core concepts are:

1) Thoughtful Commitment
2) Authentic Character
3) Exceptional Competence

While I hadn't thought about some of the dangers in business being like running for your life from a raging bull- it made a lot of sense and he weaved that concept into every section of the book. If you have ever felt like you were running away from something in your professional life and didn't know what it was, you'll probably relate strongly with this approach, which tags those 'bulls' in a really creative way.

He uses a number of personal illustrations, which made it feel conversational and more relaxed in his writing style. I especially liked the online assessment idea as a coaching tool and additional resource.

This book is well worth the purchase price if you are a manager or someone looking for a creative approach to get people talking about high stress situations.

I purchased this for my husband and he is constantly referring back to it. He recommends it to all of his friends.

Excellent resource if you are in the corporate world. Sound, common sense advice with bibical references without being too "preachy". Would use for a motivational tool for any level of management, customer service or retail establishment.

The advice in this book extends beyond the professional world and echoes in everyday life. This makes sense; we don't live double-lives, and there exists no magic, secret formula for success in business, medicine, or raising kids. It comes down to basic human virtues.

Commitment. Character. Competence. These attributes fuel the engines of success in life.

It boggles the mind how many books or programs offer axiomatic platitudes such as "it's not what you know but who you know" or "success is what makes you happy, so be true to yourself."

None such wasteful advice finds its way into this book. Rather, Dr. Irwin points out the objective, observable standards that exist in life, and our need to continually evaluate ourselves and measure our choices against those standards.

As the book says; it's simple, but it isn't easy. I highly recommend this book.

My father had the opportunity to meet John and hold a seminar for his top hair stylists. John has a great business mind and here you can read how he did it!

This audio book was an enjoyable listen and provided some good advice on success that the author learned from various successful immigrants. Basically live within your means, be tenacious, and use your brain. My only complaint was that most of the second half of the cassettes are devoted to the author's thoughts on the current sad state of the US educational system. Although this is obviously something the author is passionate about he spends far too much time on it, perhaps it was just bad editing on the abridged tape version.

I loved this book and was inspired by it. It was written in 1990, but the advice is timeless. Especially read the section on living on only 20 percent of your income. (Yeah, that's what he says!) Thought provoking in a time when our national savings rate is negative for the first time since the depression... This book is a quick and inspiring read.

I was fortunate enough to have taken an entrepreneurship and business planning graduate school class with John as the adjunct professor. He made the course worthwhile and put meaning into the work and learning we did. The story he tells is very real, and it could be you or me, but, the secret is in what you do with what you have. And knowing yourself.

John is very down to earth in his book as in life. He knows who he is, and does not profess to be anything else. And in his book, he speaks to you. Not at you. He shares some of his personal struggles on his road to and of success. And don't think he had it paved... that is the best part of the whole story. Here is someone who shares both the ups and downs, and takes you along with him on the journey. Get the book. It's easy and pleasurable to read. If you have ever dreamed of owning yor own business, get this book, read it, and remember the struggles John went through to inspire you through the rough spots in owning your own business. You will be glad you did.

This book is definitely "plain talk" about success. It was an excellent read and an excellent guideline. I've just finished it and enjoyed the book so much, I am re-reading it with my 10 year old daughter. This book should be required reading in our high schools. He makes some very painful points that should be listened to by our educators. The book was written about 10 years ago, but all of the life lessons still apply. Wish he would write a sequel! I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Ellen Castro has written a perfect gift for any busy leader. Her inspirational insight into various aspects of leadership is easy to read and includes space for personal reflection. Whether you read one a week for 52 weeks or several a week, the key will be how you apply this material to your personal leadership.

Castro has taught leaders and been in leadership. She knows what she's talking about. If you want to build trust with others in your workplace, you need this book.

Ellen Castro's book has provided me with many excellent ideas to use in my own business. I had the pleasure of meeting her recently. She walks her talk!

Ms. Castro has written one of the most worthwhile and innovative books on leadership you could hope to read.

Ellen has given each of us the gift of how to become the type of leader we want and were meant to be.

Even if you aren't in a formal leadership position this book is a must read for those wishing to be true to themselves in their professional and personal life.

"Spirited Leadership" has thought provoking questions for the reader at the end of each chapter. If you take time to consider each issue as the author allows, you will be well on your way to a "Spirited Leader".

Very applicable and to the point. A great check list for reviewing my behaviors. Enjoyed the reflections. Helped me integrate into my everyday life.

"Ellen Castro's Spirited Leadership offers a generous feast for the managerial soul. Readers will return to this lovely book repeatedly, and will be refreshed and reinspirited each time. It's a vademecum for the 1990s - a source of spiritual guidance and a stimulus to reflection." Lee Bolman, Missouri Chair in Leadership University of Missouri-Kansas City

Wow, what a great book. I could not put it down. The information is really helpful. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about these speakers, motivational speaking or just wanting a great read.

Absolutely amazing! Far and away the most detailed and analytical explanation of superstar success in the field of motivation. Bring a pen and get ready to underline. This book is filled with great thoughts you will never want to forget. I can't recommend this book highly enough. The book is genius. Dr. Darryl Wheat, author of The Genius of Great Achievers

This book is a gem that is filled with ideas from many of THE BEST speakers in the world. What a great resource! It is my favorite book now for ideas on how to be more "impactful" in my message to the audience. This reminds me of one of my other classic favorites, Think and Grow Rich. I'm ordering another copy for a friend today!

I recently got back into the training field after a long absence and found that my skills were not only rusty, but perhaps had never been developed as much as they could have. I went searching for information and came across this book. It was the first of many books I purchased on the subject, and is by far the best. Other books had great detail on how to prepare a presentation, but were lacking on what it means to entertain and engage an audience. This book gives specific examples the types of things these speakers do to engage and entertain their audiences--and covers a wide range of styles, from Tony Robbins to Barbara DeAngelis, which I found especially useful because I can relate to some types more than others.

Michael Jefferys' style is easy to read, entertaining and well laid out. His range of speaker styles means that everyone will find someone they can relate to.

After finishing this book, I successfully applied what I learned to my training. In fact, I am now rereading much of it so that I can take this excellent information to a deeper level and further polish my skills.

I started speaking publicly when I was 16 but it wasn't until I purchased Success Secrets of The Motivational Superstars on March 18, 1997, that I increased my stakes as a speaker. This one book helped me develop a deeper appreciation and understanding for what speakers do.

THIS BOOK HAS IN DEPTH PERSONAL INTERVIEWS
Michael Jeffreys deserves a standing ovation for interviewing some of the speaking industries leading speakers. He covers in depth personal interviews with three of my mentors Mark Victor Hansen, Brian Tracy and Les Brown. He could have stopped there but he also includes Leo Buscaglia, Art Linkletter, Jack Canfield, Patricia Fripp and many, many more.

JEFFREYS BOOK TEACHES YOU HOW TO LEVERAGE THEIR EXPERIENCE
If you want to learn how to overcome obstacles and see the specific step by step formulas that some of the speakers apply you need this book like a car needs a steering wheel. You will be guided through such things as what to do when you blow it, identifying your unique differentiating factors, how to give your audience ideas they can put to use within 24 hours, the Walt Disney philosophy, Les Brown's number one quality and a few hundred other techniques, ideas and things to avoid.

IF YOU WERE MY STUDENT THIS WOULD BE REQUIRED READING!
Failing to apply the lessons you learn in this book could be disastrous to your speaking career. All that I have shared above only gives you a birds eye view of this wonderful book.

I think that it is very funny that our lives have become so complicated that we need a book to teach us how to simplify it, but need it we do. Jan Jasper has put together what seemed like a million simple ideas on how to get through all the stuff that screems for our attention. To accomplish more, to enjoy our life more, to do the things that are important to us, we must purge all the time wasters. "Take back your time" gave me a view from a different angle so that I can make a choice on what to keep and what to purge. I am glad I bought it! P.S. For me "Think and grow rich", How to win friends, and influence people", The majic of thinking Big" are five star books. "Take back your time" is a strong four.

This book does a great job focusing on today's concerns for people of the 2000's, especially urban-dwelling, business-types, with limited time, limited space, and a desire to prioritize their work and home environments. The practical, incremental solutions Ms. Jasper offers are things a reader can implement immediately. I've read this book twice already and intend to re-read it periodically to check-up on my progress in reducing stress and organizing my business and personal time. In the new e-world filled with 'Self-Help' books (and I've read a lot of them...) this is a fresh approach with current ideas. GREAT BOOK !!

This is a rare treat. The book actually delivers what it promises. For those of us who find ourselves overwhelmed with daily clutter and are fighting an uphill battle to keep ahead of our increasingly formidable schedules, we are finally offered a workable set of solutions. If you follow the suggestions offered by Ms. Jasper there will come a point where you suddenly realize your life is not an accelerating treadmill. There is a real benefit to a publication which offers attainable goals and a real template for success.

"Take Back Your Time" is an intelligent, easy-to-read, and helpful book for getting "unstuck". I had been stymied by the number of things on my "to-do" list -- important personal pet projects, desires to change old habits, business development ideas -- and Jasper's book provided the keen insight I needed to begin to dislodge my inertia! Jasper also made me aware that organizational skills do not equal efficient working skills -- a crucial distinction. I had check marks and notations on many of the pages of the book. I plan to lend it to my business partner, whose desk is one giant "In Box"!

Before I read this book, I thought I knew what my problem was. There was simply too much to do in too little time, and the situation was completely hopeless. After reading just three chapters of "Take Back Your Time," I had already gained an entirely different perspective. Applying Jasper's advice on setting priorities and weeding out time-consuming, unnecessary chores helped me regain several hours weekly. Now I actually have time for some of the fun things I'd totally given up on finding time for. Plus, at the office, I'm now able to meet my deadlines without compromising the quality of my work.

This is an excellent reference when one eventually gets kicked in the teeth professionally. The authors provide a pragmatic way to figure out what happened in ones professional life so an provide ample example of others who have had similar experiences.

I bought this book 12 years ago, but was so crushed at the time by the idea of having failed that I couldn't pick it up to read it. Now that I have, it's been a huge blessing.

Carole Hyatt and Linda Gottlieb have written one of the most healing books I've ever read -- period. Anyone who thinks failure is a permanent condition should read this book.When Smart People Fail: Rebuilding Yourself for Success

I work as a Business Coach and Life Coach and refer clients to this book regularly. This is an older book, originally published in 1987, but its message is timeless. The authors talk about success and failure in a unique and thought-provoking way. Their primary point is that failure is a larger concern for Americans than for people in other cultures, that we are the most success-oriented people in the world. Americans don't seem to have the ability to distinguish between their judgment of events and the events themselves. We judge our lives and careers based on perceived success or failure whereas people in other cultures tend to gain a sense of self from their families or themselves.

I found this book to be compelling and useful in the context of both business and personal well-being. Understanding the historical and social aspects of the concept of failure is helpful, as is considering the two types of failure they identify: Overt failure (e.g. getting fired) and hidden failure (e.g. looking successful on the outside but feeling disappointed in oneself and like a failure inside). The book guides the reader through the process of learning from mistakes and reinterpreting the failure, not only into a learning experience but also into future success. I found this book to be both informative and practical. The subject of failure holds such taboo in our culture and yet anyone who takes risks in life will fail at some point. I think it makes sense to study the subject and emulate what the authors teach, accepting and learning from everything life's rich pageant has to offer us-Lorna Kellogg

This book was really eye-opening. The book was so encouraging. I believe this book will help many people.

Failure among the ambitious, upwardly mobile, educated and intelligent of our modern, industrialized society often comes across as being more devastating, more defining, and more frightening than it actually is. What in actuality defines us is not the number of our failures, but how we deal with our failure, how we look upon it, and most importantly, how we either use our failure or allow our failures to define us.

Hyatt and Gottlieb have written an excellent text on professional/career failure. The authors start the book by imparting intrepid examples both personal and private, of the emotional processes associated with failure. They accurately describe (often in painful and excruciating detail) the feelings of fear, isolation, shame and remorse associated with losing a job, status, money or some combination of the three. One can not only relate to the loss of purpose, the punctured egos, and the declining sense of self of those who have failed professionally, but also can actually feel as if it is happening to him or her- for it at some point has happened to him or her. They emphatically stress that career failure is something that eventually touches every professional, in some cases sooner, and in others, later. In this way, they show that failure has no prejudices, and everyone is a card-carrying member of this club, whether they realize it or not. As such, in dealing with failure, it is extremely important for the individual to realize that he or she is not alone in the experience, even if our greater society compels us to put up a strong front and pretend that nothing is really wrong. In order to healthily deal with failure, the authors emphasize the importance of understanding the meaning of failure in both the personal and the societal context, and elaborate upon how the feelings associated with failure unfold in the individual. Many people define themselves based on their occupation, their professional affiliation, or their status in life, and it comes as no surprise that these are the people hardest hit by career failure. Those of us who have cultivated other sides of our personality, such as those of us who live for our weekend hobbies, or those of us that are family or community oriented, tend to handle career failure much better, and can even take it in stride. Although many readers and those who have experienced failure or are currently experiencing failure may not believe it, failure actually gives people options, which the authors not only demonstrate, but also help the reader identify and ultimately take advantage of in later chapters.

In the first part of the book, one chapter each is devoted to defining the characteristics of failure at the level of the individual and the society, dealing with the feelings, which occur in stages, associated with failure, how our career failures can affect those closest to us, and how men and women respond to career failure. The second part of the book focuses on taking failure in stride, and offers a comprehensive strategy for personal reinvention after suffering a career failure. Arguably the most important part of the book, this section devotes one comprehensive chapter to each of the following topics: discovering why one has failed, gleaning from the failure some positive knowledge by re-interpreting the events leading up to the failure, recognizing and casting off old and inappropriate labels and finding new ones, expanding one's career choices, and making the transition from the old professional to the new, centered and focused individual. The authors also include in this section of the book a bonus chapter that showcases two successfully reinvented individuals, and elaborates upon the nature of their failure, how they dealt with failure, and the process of their reinvention. Each chapter in the second part of the book provides the reader with powerful tactics to build a new, improved person from career failure, and allows one to rise triumphantly out of the ashes of failure, much like the proverbial phoenix. The third and final part of the book, entitled `Towards Real Success', helps the reader to win the internal battle associated with failure. While the second part of the book helps to outwardly reinvent the individual for career success, the final section of the book helps the individual to cultivate a new perspective, a new outlook- on career failure. This part of the book encourages the reader to look upon failure as a learning experience, and as such, helps one to regard failure as a temporary setback that one can learn from.

The authors have written a truly empowering book, one that entrepreneurs and professionals must read and keep alongside all the other books on career and entrepreneurial success, as there inevitably will be one or more notable, spectacular and in some cases unfortunately public failures on the path to a successful career journey. In the end, I can only say that there is no shame in taking a risk, giving one's all, and failing, and I wholeheartedly believe that true shame results from failing to try, failing to risk, fearing change, and failing to grow. These, I truly believe, are the things that comprise the regrets in one's life.