Economic-Life Books

'Our School' is an inspiring read, especially for those teachers who are working with students in less-than-ideal environments.
Although 'Our School' talks a lot about the American school system, the ideas and discussions on pedegogy are universal.

As a school psychologist, I saw many students who struggled and sometimes gave up. I enjoyed reading "Our School," which is about a charter high school that recruits freshmen who've earned D's and F's and graduates them with the skills and motivation they'll need to earn a four-year college degree. At Downtown College Prep, students and faculty experience many "glorious failures," learn from their mistakes and go on to do better the next time. As a charter school, DCP has the flexibility to try new ideas to find out what works best for its students, most of whom come from low-income, non-English-speaking families. The book is a well-told eyewitness account infused with humor. I really liked the chapter about Ride the Carrot Salad. "Our School" is a great resource for teachers and other educators, and I think anyone who cares about our schools will find this book a rewarding read.

Diminutive Selena gripped two sides of a basketball with uncertainty before finally giving in to the shouting principal/coach on the sideline, begging her to shoot.

She shot-putted the ball forward ... and watched it sail wide of the backboard by two feet.

Selena was one of the key players on the most unlikely girls basketball team ever to win a high school game -- a team that "Our School" author Joanne Jacobs hilariously describes as "the shortest basketball team in America."

"Our School" is not about sports, but this team -- eight girls hovering around five feet tall, among the few at their school who could muster the C average required to play -- is the perfect metaphor for the academically undermanned students that San Jose's Downtown College Prep charter school promises to someday send to college.

The Lady Lobos are mostly Mexican immigrants who know little about the game they've decided to play and are short of skills needed to succeed. But with enough "ganas" -- Spanish for desire -- perhaps they can somehow pull out a victory.

Likewise, "DCP students enter the school academic losers," Jacobs writes. "They don't know how to play the game. By the standards of middle-class high schools, DCP students aren't really in the game. But they keep working, they get better. If they stick with it, they'll win a college education."

Jacobs is the education reporter and former columnist for the San Jose Mercury News now nationally known for her popular education blog, [...]."Our School" is her book chronicling the years she spent observing as two idealistic teachers attempted to write their own rules and build a high expectations high school for low performing kids in an impoverished, gang-ridden inner city.

The book is both a pleasingly written, novel-like tale of kids who struggle â" and mostly win -- against tough odds and something of a guide for would-be school charter school developers, complete with a "how to start a charter school" chapter as an appendix.

For the motivated teacher, or otherwise inspired individual, who has thought of breaking out on their own to start their own charter school, Jacobs' book is really a must read. The "Lessons Learned" chapter alone is filled with telling stories and sage advice from DCP's founders.

For instance, they sorely underestimated how much catching up their entering ninth graders would need on very basic skills after years of neglect in the school system. It wasn't enough to set high expectations and seek to inspire them. The kids, plain and simple, needed to know how the speak English and multiply. As a result, DCP ended up much more structured and regimented than anyone ever expected because that's what the kids needed.

The school leaders also had to come to terms with the necessity of tossing kids out, especially for misbehavior. DCP throws out a lot of kids, a detail likely to catch the eye of charter critics, who complain that other public schools would love to have that nuclear bomb in the war to maintain discipline and order. "Our School" makes the point many times that discipline is a key. The leaders believe rules must be enforced consistently and unwaveringly, and they don't hesitate to expel even kids they like who fail to get with the program.

DCP's success is undeniable by the book's end. Just as the short kids on the girls basketball team work hard, get better, begin to compete and finally actually taste real victory, so their classmates, too, are reborn in academic success. All that stick with DCP to the end go to college and the school's test scores ultimately rank among the best around.

Still, the future of the school is far from certain. Teacher turnover is heavy. By its very nature, Jacobs tells us, the school tends to attract young dreamers to its teaching staff â" not the types to work at one school and retire 30 years later. By the book's end, one of the founders is even working on getting out.

Sustainability is a big question for charter schools, even excellent ones like DCP.

I also wonder if "Our School" won't someday be viewed as a period piece, unique to the early days of the charter movement when the romantic vision was that pioneering teachers would break free from bureaucracy and reinvent education.

In fact, the "mom-and-pop" charter schools â" truly independent and run by local folks â" may be a dying breed. An ever increasing share of charters are run by national management companies, such as Edison Schools and Heritage Academies, and more recently, non-profits and school districts themselves.

Even so, as the charter movement continues to grow, Jacobs has done a nice job encapsulating what these new public schools are supposed to be about and how they are different from traditional public schools. It's a good primer for the average parent â" those who've heard of charters but not really sure what they are exactly. And the story is an enjoyable ride right to the end.

"Pulled by my mother's dreams, I walked barefoot across the border from Mexico," Selena's begins her college essay. "I was six years old."

But with wild basketball misses behind her, on track for a diploma and a college scholarship awaiting, Selena will cross the commencement stage ready to chase her own dreams.

[...].

On my blog, Why Homeschool, I posted back in December about attending Joanne Jacobs' kickoff event for her book I bought the book back in December and had Joanne sign it. But I've been distracted, partly by blogging, and only recently got around to reading Our School.

Our School is basically a biography of Downtown College Prep, DCP. This is a charter high school in San Jose. Joanne leads us through the birth of the school, founded in 2000. We are introduced to Greg Lippman and Jennifer Andaluz who started the push for DCP. We read of the struggles to get funding, to get a location, and to get students.

Most of the book is about incidents that happened at DCP, or in connection to DCP. It like reading a story. Along the way Joanne slips in information about charter schools and education in general. The book is well written, very engaging, and hard to put down.

Many charter schools are very selective about who they let into the school. Often they only want students who are motivated and doing well in school. There are two elementary charter schools in my neighborhood. There is great competition to get in, so the schools are able to pick the better students.

DCP was created with the intention to help those who were fluking to get back on track for college. Greg and Jennifer were going after those who were no longer in the game. They set themselves a daunting task. In some ways DCP trying to help their students catch up is a Don Quixote mission; it is an almost impossible task. Most of the freshman class was functioning around the fifth grade level. Most of them don't know how to take notes. Most of them don't want to be in school. Most of have trouble reading. A Don Quixote mission might even be easier.

Our School recounts the efforts of the teachers at DCP. One of the nice things about a charter school is they are not bound up with so much bureaucracy. The teachers at DCP would try something, and if it didn't work, they would change quickly. Over time they found ways to help the students dramatically improve their reading. They taught the students how to study. And over time most of the students became engaged and were on track for college. They accomplished these Herculean tasks.

This is a very inspiring and moving book. We get exposed to some of the problems with public education, and we see how a couple people were able to make a great difference. This is a good book to read.

First, let me say, WOW! In my local area, there are several charter schools, two even run by the previous public school district Superintendent -- yep, there is a good story there. While the charter schools here are doing some good things, it seems to me that there really isn't as much difference between them and their nearby district schools when it comes to test scores. They have the same achievement gaps and high percentages of kids not making grade level proficiency as their counterparts in the local district. With this perspective, I haven't really seen charter schools as the answer to public educations' problems. Part of the answer maybe, but not the solution.

After reading Joanne's book and my recent appreciation for certain charter schools, such as American Indian Public Charter in Oakland, I think with the right leadership, charter schools offer the opportunity for educators to try new approaches. When these approaches work, the students are successful and the charter school is successful. When they don't, both fail.

In the case of Downtown College Prep, the school explored in Joanne's book, I think this is a success. While their test scores are good, not great, the fact that their students almost all failed in their previous traditional public school experiences really makes their test scores outstanding. The simple fact that they can turn around many of these students and get them to college is extraordinary.

One of my major complaints of public education is that too often, teaching practices exist simply because "we've always done it that way" or because the administrators or teachers like a specific program or strategy, without any regard to whether it really is successful. Charter schools provide opportunities to explore new school configurations and strategies without the bureaucratic inertia of a district administration or in many cases a teacher's union. I really think this is a good thing. While there are both good and bad charter schools, just like traditional public schools, I think it is important that charters exist to be the proving ground for new strategies and to help identify best practices that can be implemented by other schools.

In my job, I read a lot of really boring books. I read books on education and education policy as well as nerdy computer books. Our School satisfied my need for education policy while at the same time being a great story, which was well written.

I discovered Joanne's blog a couple years ago and since then I have become a huge fan. I don't always agree with her, but I find her articles well written and thoughful. She makes me consider my point of view on many topics. Of course, in the end I realize I'm right or that we agree, but she does make me think.

I strongly encourage everyone to buy a copy of Our School, whether you are involved in the field of education, a parent concerned about your child's schools, starting a charter school or simply are looking for a great, uplifting story. It also makes a great gift for that educator on your Christmas list.

Ross has done a masterful job in bringing together concepts that affect all areas of our lives. You can apply the ideas contained in these pages to improve your home life, work or occupation, social and above all your spiritual growth. Manipulation and control currently breed resentment in those it is being perpetrated upon. Most people don't realize they are doing it. To analyze your own behavior and stop the manipulation will not only improve your own quality of life, but it will also affect those around and close to you. I highly recommend this book!

Ross has done a masterful job in bringing together concepts that affect all areas of our lives. You can apply the ideas contained in these pages to improve your home life, work or occupation, social and above all your spiritual growth. Manipulation and control currently breed resentment in those it is being perpetrated upon. Most people don't realize they are doing it. To analyze your own behavior and stop the manipulation will not only improve your own quality of life, but it will also affect those around and close to you. I highly recommend this book!

The author defines 'Authentic Power' as "the power to consistently obtain what we truly desire" (which is in itself a somewhat question begging definition, but strongly reminiscent of what Senge and others call 'personal mastery'). The book falls most closely into the growing field of books concerned with personal development, with a business audience in mind. It provides a useful review of mental models of power and how they shape our reality and a guide to building power and exercising power through self-empowerment.
Though useful, it does not in my opinion replace Hillman: Kinds of Power: Guides to its Intelligent Uses. (1995)

Authentic power comes from within, but such power is best demonstrated as personal strength and not a desire to impose one's will on others. The Quest For Authentic Power by G. Ross Lawford adroitly blends psychology, theology and business theory to outline a new view of power and how to achieve it - without manipulation.

When I first read this book in the Soring of 2002, I likened it to opening a window and filling my lungs with fresh air. I saw patterns, limits, stumbling blocks I had known and experienced as old style power and could detach from those power sources, even if they came from others.

New possibilities, strengths and creative solutions followed with a new found intentionality for choices made. In 2003 I am convinced the book is invaluable for leadership in volunteerism, and work, and for personal life changes. Now I am pulling the book's ideas forward again to help do some difficult staff training and development.

This is not a long book, but an important read for new perspectives.

M.J. Franklin, Volunteer Leader, Adult Educator, Grandparent and Spouse.

I read this book when I was 11 years old and I am 19 approaching 20, and to this day I still find the lessons in the book to hold true in my life. Small one-liners like, "learn to be alone" helped me through tough times in school as well as at home. I am purchasing this book now for my younger sister who is the same age I was when first read this book and I really hope this will be as much of a help to her as it was to me.

And you can be sure that in the future my daughters will read this book as well.

This book has two things that make it a great advice book. The first one is that the commentary that describes a "rule" is always funny and includes a quote, and maybe a few tips. The second reason is how beside every rule there is a picture. Yeah well big deal. Actually the pictures are very important in the book because they are all in black and white and most of the pictures show classic moms/woman and kids from the 1950's. With "rules" in the categories of: Romance, Work, Social Life, Family, Money, and Life Tips, there's advice for everyone. =)

I spotted this book in a store, and immediately bought a copy for anyone and everyone I might ever buy something for. It's funny, inspirational and most importantly true. Every girl and woman in the world needs a copy of this book -- it's the perfect manual on how to get the most out of yourself and your life. You'll laugh till you cry.

From Blue Jean Online (www....com)

By Melisa Gao, Teen Editor

Filled with wacky but insightful advice to girls of all ages, The Real Rules for Girls is a book that every woman will wish she had been given earlier in life. Mindy Morgenstern's musings can be hilarious and zany, but always lead to a genuine message that fosters self-esteem and confidence.

The book is divided into sections for romance, work, social life, family, money, and life tips. Each contains offbeat words of wisdom accompanied by comical pictures and quotations from Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, and others.

"The football captains of today are the burger jockeys of tomorrow," Morgenstern proclaims, describing a scene in which you, a Nobel laureate and nominee for president, run into that heartthrob from sophomore year who is now an Assistant Manager at McDonalds. "If there isn't a door, kick in a wall," she advises. "Jobs will ... along the way," reads another caption.

It is this kind of frankness that will have older generations nodding their heads in agreement and younger girls eager to read more. The message Morgenstern delivers is to live life to its fullest, pursuing dreams and taking advantage of every opportunity. It is effectively conveyed by creative layouts and entertaining personal stories, making the book a quick and fun read. The Real Rules for Girls makes a great gift and will be enjoyed time and again by young women of all ages.

Copyright 2002 Blue Jean Online

The Real Rules for Girls is the ultimate book for any teenage girl who needs a little advice on life. Mindy Morgenstern covers all the important topics: Guys, Work, Family, Social Life. It has it all! This book is filled with fun humour and lets you know that you're not alone living this hectic-filled teenage life.

Beatryce Nivens is a valued member in the African American community, her contributions are culturally constructive, professionally progressive, and economically empowering.

We support her because her goal is to empower us.

BTW, if you gave Beatryce's book a rating of 4 or more, we clicked `yes' for the question "Was this review helpful to you?"

I enjoyed reading this book and it was very helpful. They did a good job of breaking the book up into sections and you can just read the areas that are most important to you at the time and the others at a later time. I enjoyed reading this book and will refer to it time and time again.

This book have made me stay focus on my goal to become a publish writer. I carry this book wherever I go. I make sure I introduce it to anyone who come across my path. The book is great. It's a blessing to have it as a part of my home library.

This book brought an array of emotions to surface. Laughter,idenity,tears and most important, an enlightment of black history and education. I beleive all people of color should read this book because there's parts in the book that males and females can relate to.

I found the book dynamic, self-motivating, encouraging and the profiles interesting. The book helped me to sitdown and really take a hard look at my life in terms of career and interests. I felt like I could take a chance and do anything I choose to do. Thanks Ms. nivens for a stimulating book that should be read my everyone searching and trying to decide their career paths. Jacqueline Fauntleroy

I recently finished Think Naked and have already passed it on to an older friend so he could re-awaken his imagination and recharge his creative batteries -- just as I did when reading Marco Marsan's book. This is the kind of book and message you share with your friends. If they read it as receptively and as openly as I did, it will remind them that they are intrinsically creative -- and if they allow their inner child to emerge, they will unlock inhibitions, pre-conceptions and blocks to their creativity. It's also fun to read and fun to discuss. It is a book that should find its way into the hands of old-school managers. Many of Marsan's lists and "exercises" might be incorporated into managerial and in-house training sessions or they could be used as the basis of a course in creativity and problem solving. If you are a witness to small-box thinking among your peers or long to escape, to try new things, to bolster and sustain your creativity, then pick up Think Naked.

This books joins my six-foot shelf of books related to creativity, design, communication and the creative process. I've read books by Johnson, de Bono, Norman, Jakob Nielsen, Buckminster Fuller, Tufte, Christopher Alexander and Papenek. Incidentally, the other morning my friend came into the cafe with it under his arm, punctuated by an ornate, tasseled bookmark. I thought he was carrying his missal with him. It gave me a hint as to just how enmeshed he was in his reading.

We could all use a daily brain wedgie to remind us that we have the potential to use our brains and skills in ways that are ordinarily passed by because they are "too far out" or have some kind of taboo associated with them. I was reminded of an essay I wrote many years ago, entitled, "Put Grandmother in the Crib" - based on Edward de Bono's solution to the problem of the baby inconveniencing grandma, as she knitted and napped. It was to put the baby on the carpet and grandmother in the crib.

As a retiree and volunteer to local groups, I've gone one step further and have made more of an effort to surround myself with smart people and SMEs (subject matter experts). If you let yourself be dumbed down by the popular press and popular culture, your inner child will be stifled and inhibited. Don't let it happen to you. Read Think Naked and recharge your batteries and feel the fire that burns inside.

For further exploration, visit Marsan's web sites at: http://thinknaked.com , http://www.marcopoloexplorers.com/ and http://marcomarsan.com

mr. marco sure knows how to put things in perspective. i would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to find the kid in them!!!

What a truly inspirational book! A MUST read for the uptight, uninspired, tired, bored, same-ol'-same-ol' one in your life. Can't see the forest yourself anymore? Read it! (Then buy a copy for your boss because he surely needs it more than you!!).

Thanks, Marco!

Marcan's book is a reasonably interesting re-take on the zillion creativity and anti-burnout books that have gone before. It's certainly worth a read if your brain needs a little juice to get out of a rut. That is, as long as you can get past the shoddy editing and notes written in an almost unreadable typeface with a stained-paper background.

First off, I have to say that I agree with the other reviewer regarding editing: the Jodere group consistently publishes books with very bad editing, sometimes using several semi-colons in one sentence...ALL the time. Aggravating. 5 Stars for content, zero for editing.

Shoddy editorship aside, the information in this book is helpful and even fascinating. Author, marketer, corporate anarchist, and founder of Marco Polo Explorers, Marco Marsan was named one of America's top Out-of-the-Box thinkers by the Mazda Corporation. Think Naked came out earlier this year, and it's a delightful book about re-discovering child-like brilliance. Marsan has something interesting things to say on the inside flap of his book: "Dr. Seuss once described adults as 'obsolete children'. Extensive studies show that there is a 98 percent chance you were a creative genius before age four. Business week magazine says that a 40-year old adult is about two percent as creative as a five-year-old child. Findings like these tell us that creative genius isn't something you find--it's something that you've merely, and perhaps, only temporarily lost." Some chapters in this book include You Were A Genius:Discovering the childlike brilliance you were born with, See Saw:Balancing the combination of kidlike genius with your adult wealth of experience, Wear Your Cape:How to create conditions that encourage risk-taking without fear, and Show And Tell:How to get in touch with your passions and your exuberance.

Throughout the book, Marsan gives fascinating examples from scientific studies, pop-culture, trends, nature, and other sources to illustrate just how in the box many of us remain--especially when it comes to personal satisfaction and creativity.

This book is a lot of fun to read, and stimulates thinking outside of conventional, plodding thought patterns. Refreshing and bold, it's sure to be a welcome addition for the library of a manager or business professional, and for anyone wanting to infuse the zest of new perspectives into their lives.

I found this book in a used book store in 1985. After reading it I immediately went about implementing the system defined by Dr. Hobbs. The results were amazing. I started to get high marks in university, I accomplished long term goals and increased my own self esteem.

I continue to follow this system today and I learn more and more about effective time management every year.

I recommend this book most highly to anyone interested in CONTINUOUS self improvement.

Several years ago, I bought about a dozen books on time management and found this and Alan Lakien's books to be the best. Time Power is intense and required several months of part time effort for me to complete. It's truly unfortunate that Mr. Hobbs' book is now out of print. Charles pioneered modern time management theory and practice. All the current time management experts, trainers and consultants derive their core concepts and ideas from Charles Hobbs. This work is a bit out of step with current practices in that we increasingly moving away from paper based systems toward electronic time management products such as MS Outlook. On the other hand, the most important thoughts and ideas presented in this book are timeless. I recently began working with Tony Robbins' "Time of Your Life" CD program which is also quite good.

I read this book in 1996 and forgot how good it is. Rereading it now and recommend it to anyone who is looking to be a better manager of their time and life. This is the classic time managment book, forget Covey, he ripped his ideas off Hobbs. For about $.. (it is in paperback) you can save yourself a bundle. ...

This is not your usual techniques and how to book. It's a philosophy of managing your life. I have found the core idea of Self-unification of behavior and principles and the logically deduced goals sequenced according to the Pyramid of Productivity and implemented with the Concentration of Power turbocharges goal achievment and self-esteem. The one reviewer is right. This is not a quick read. It's not dense or boring. Acutally, his breadth and his down to earth approach, makes it seem easy. I have one copy heavily marked up and I recommend that if you see it in a bookshop--buy it.

This book should be required reading for every man, woman and child, and especially required for anyone interesting in improving themselves! Dr. Hobbs has an excellent system of time management to be sure, but the genius of his system is that it includes ALL areas of your life, not just in the work place. I stumbled upon this book in 1987 in the library. After reading the first few pages I immediately went out and purchased it and began marking it up. My wife did the same. I shared it at work and in my ministry. His system of understanding personal congruency and documenting Unifying Principles changed my life and has been used by me and loads of my friends for 14 years! It works! If you can get this book, GET IT.

I loved this book! Generally, I find business theory and modeling books to be dry, boring, and -- let's face it -- pretty dumb. But Craig Wortmann's book is like a breath of fresh air.

Wortmann's concept makes practical sense: use storytelling to not only motivate your audience, but to encapsulate your business mission. His writing style is energetic and engaging; Wortmann's voice comes right through. The book is full of advice for myriad situations encountered in the business world, and frankly, it spills over into all sorts of other opportunities as well, from nonprofit, volunteer work to networking to personal situations.

Highly recommended, not just for C-levels but anyone who needs a new outlook on their working world. A fast read, you'll come out of this with new ideas, some laughs, and refreshed motivation to go back to work.

As with many epiphanies in life, this one had to be delivered by, of all things, a book about how stories "ignite performance." I never paid much attention to my use of stories or their power until I read Craig Wortmann's book. Like a new car owner who spots their recent choice EVERYWHERE, I am now gratefully aware of stories and their powerful role in our lives and work performance. I have even a few times chuckled aloud as I witness a story capture an audience or even as I begin one to a few listeners. But more importantly, Craig was spot-on with his thesis that "we become more aware of our stories, and that we embed our stories in our communications, because this is a great way to...manage our information and increase our performance."
Craig makes his argument carefully, taking the reader by the hand. He takes his time stating the problem, and then turns on the overhead light for us just when we need it: the answer to all those bits and bullets and cacophony in our busy lives is...the story. That's right, what has warmed us and kept us safe since childhood is the key communication element in our adult world! Like all great leaders, Craig also models the behavior he is recommending; "What's Your Story" is awash in steady argument, clear communication and story-after-anecdote-after-story. This is a great read for anyone looking for that communication elixir or that missing leadership piece. Great work, Mr. Wortmann. Now you have one more story to tell!

We teach what we know and have learned through many life-lessons. But unfortunately, our "words of wisdom" may translate as "war stories" in the retelling. "What's Your Story?" helps keep that from happening. This book helps you frame your experience as stories that can mean as much to your audience as they do to you. Wortmann follows his own formula of teaching by example, using vivid vignettes to dramatize key points. It's great "airplane reading" when you're on your way to make a speech. Keep a pen handy because you'll think of things you'll want to do differently.

This is a great book about a simple concept - which is why it so valuable! Stories provide context that help us all learn. This book provides very helpful suggestions for how to use stories to affect behavior in any organization. I highly recommend it!

As a new business owner, I found the book to be very helpful. As we grow, I've used Craig's techniques to to develop a unique story that will establish our identity.

20 $ecrets to Money and Independence is a FANTASTIC exemplar for today's do-it-all femmes. Joline Godfrey's humor and wisdom combine, making each page a valued treasure. She enlightens the reader on the originality of themselves and their ideas, both which can be utilized to empower the world. She stresses the importance of women's ideas as stepping-stones that make our dreams a reality. By thinking big and proving their ability, women flourish their potential, and shed the stereotypical naiveté` that hinders too many females in today's society. In addition to her insight, the author provides exercises for reflection and resources that unleash the interests of the curious explorer.
Godfrey's style is entirely motivating, and her tactics foster the active mind, fountain of creativity, and omnipotence within everybody. She emphasizes that belief in oneself can accomplish anything; being a leader, growing money, making passions pay, carrying oneself with poise and confidence, and making a difference are beyond no one. Progressing through this book is like an exciting journey, full of wonders and enriching experiences. The $ecrets within lead not only to physical freedom and wealth, but the inner development of qualities that generate from self-reliance and worldly experience. A pleasure to read for young and old alike, Joline Godfrey is impeccable.

Time and time again, I've seen how much strength women (both young and old) draw from the stories of other women's lives. Author Joline Godfrey obviously understands that - for in Twenty $ecrets, as in her first two books, Godfrey combines sound, down to earth, listen to your own drummer type of advice with engaging, real-life anecdotes. A definite must-read for ages 13 and up.

This book was fun,inspiring, and helped me link money with my voice and values. I especially loved the chapters on "Embracing YOur Weirdness and Investing in Yourself. Who knew that being weird was a great path to finacial independence? Great perpective on life, money, and possibility!

"Let Go" is the most important secret for me. It emphasizes letting go of Perfection, Anger, Certainty, Harmful Habits, Self Pity, and Things, so that we can make room for our independence to soar. Ms. Godfrey gives the reader effective tips on how to deal with each of these items. These tips have worked for me! All of the other secrets are great, too, and should be reread from time to time for inspiration!

Joline Godfrey's book 20 Secrets to Money and Independence has been making me smile for years. It is an easy to understand guide to some of the more complex ideas of becoming a well rounded women. I first learned about investing, net worth, and even "embracing my wierdness" from Joline. Now I have a better foundation to pursue my dreams from. Independence is something I can have, now. I was about 20 years of age when I first started reading this book. I would recommend it to any young female. You can't be too young to enjoy the empowerment this book gives a girl. And as for the older girls, such as myself, you may enjoy this book even more.It touches on so many important qualities an independent woman needs to cultivate as an adult.Thumbs up for Joline Godfrey. She knows how to empower women of all ages.

If you think you know what prosperity is, this book may change your mind. It presents the fullest definition of "Propserity" I've ever found. So much of what we call success is only superficial, but this book goes deep. Written as a short novel, it will keep you on the edge of your seat as the main character moves from a wood cutter to "highest prosperity." I love it.

The 7 Laws of Highest Prosperity is the greatest book I've read this year! This book helped to get a clear focus on what God wants me to do. It is a refreshing story about how God desires all of us to be prosperous in every area of our lives. What better what to witness than through success! If you're looking for clear understanding of God's purpose for your life, then this is the book for you!

This book reads like a modern-day parable; a story that draws one in and makes one look at oneself with new eyes. I felt like Kemp was writing about ME.
As I shared the book with friends, their reaction was much the same.
I have highly recommend 7 Laws of Highest Prosperity to my church members.

A wonderful story, a wonderful lesson in life. This book is insightful and truly inspirational. You cannot read this book without comparing yourself with the main character, Sam the Wood Gatherer. The lessons of life here are more valuable than any financial returns that may come from following Sam's lead. This is NOT your typical book on prosperity. All too often, these books focus primarily, if not entirely on self. The lesson here is that prosperity will come to you if you focus your energies on others. It is a fairly short book, just over 100 pages, but the power in those pages is immense.
I enjoyed this book so much that I am in the process of gathering several other Cecil Kemp books for reading. I have just finished my second, "The Secret Meeting Place," and it may actually be even better than this one.
If you are looking for more from your life, this is one of the most important books you may ever read. Don't miss it!

Cecil O. Kemp's "7 Laws of Highest Prosperity" has more practical spiritual guidance than Steven Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People", and is more readable than Spencer Johnson's "Who Moved My Cheese?". Following Sam's road from lowly beginnings to "highest prosperity" was for me both a pleasure and a beginning of my own journey to seek highest prosperity. When it comes to knowing how to live prosperously, Kemp hits the nail on the noggin! No false premise here.

I've always been a big fan of basketball coach John Wooden . . . not
only because of the winning record he amassed at UCLA, but also
because of the way he both coached and taught.

So over the years, I've tried to read as much as much about him
as I could find . . . yet somehow I had missed Brian D. Biro's book,
BEYOND SUCCESS; i.e., until
just recently when I had the pleasure of personally meeting with
the author and he most graciously gave me a copy.

What a gift!

Biro, one of the nation's foremost speakers on leadership and
team-building, actually had access to Wooden . . . he got to
interview him and then based what he wrote on Wooden's Pyramid
of Success.

Yet what made this such a winner for me was the fact that
Biro also brought his own examples and activities, including
this one that really caught my attention:

* The Personal Victory Exercise

1. Write a brief description of five to ten of your greatest personal
victories.

2. Create your own personal victory anchor.

3. Visualize the event as if it were actually happening right now.

4. Meet with a friend and share your personal victories with
this person.

5. Try firing your personal victory anchor when you're in a neutral
frame of mind and notice the emotional impact.

6. Add at least one personal victory to your list each day for
thirty days and repeat steps 1 through 5.

I also like how he constantly incorporated Wooden's own
philosophies and words; e.g.:

* It's amazing how much can be accomplished when no one
cares who gets the credit.

In addition, Biro introduced me to individuals and stories I had
never read about in the many other motivational books I've read
in my life . . . you'll be inspired by the tales about Elzea
Bufier and Yves LaForest and, also, the thrilling account of how
an underdog US. swimming relay team beat West Germany
in the Olympics.

Lastly, I learned an important key to visualization that I had
never seen before:

* The fifth and final fundamental of effective visualization is not one
I have read in books or heard in seminars. Instead, it is something
I have observed in others and felt within myself. We give our visualizations
their greatest strength when we fill them with people we love and care
about. This is the single most powerful way to enliven your visualizations
with emotional clout.

Don't negate BEYOND SUCCESS because you think it is only about
basketball . . . though the sport is often mentioned, this fine book
has applications to business, education and just about any other
field you can name . . . I look forward to sharing it with my students,
as well as with my daughter and future son-in-law.

This is the best book on Wooden I have read.

What a great book! Brian has PASSION for helping and motivating people to success. His style is both warm and uplifting. I love the stories in this book. Brian teaches you how to find meaningful motivation. A must read!

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

I have always respected the tremendous success of John Wooden and his Pyramid of Success. The UCLA basketball coach who won 10 NCAA Championships in twelve years demonstrated his successful system not by winning basketball games, but by inspiring and directing his players to perform at their highest level and achieve greatness by doing their best.

Brian Biro's book is based on Wooden's Pyramid of Success. In his book, Biro effectively describes and identifies each building block, starting with the key foundations of industriousness and enthusiasm. Biro then illustrates these qualities with entertaining anecdotes of his work as a swimming coach, businessperson, and "life coach."

While Biro's name does not have the prestige of Wooden, he is able to write an entertaining and informative description of Wooden's principles. Moreover, Biro provides the reader with a few useful tips and exercises to help us realize our potential.
In addition to quoting from Wooden, Biro also seems to rely on the work of Tony Robbins as well.

Most readers will appreciate this book. While nothing in here is groundbreaking or revolutionary, it encapsulates the keys to success in any endeavor. You will enjoy it.

I've always admired John Wooden's work as a leader of men. I have his Pyramid of Success on my office wall. Mr. Biro's work has brought the building bricks of the pyramid into focus for me. This a well written work that reaches far beyond the "self help" genre. It was very well organized, inspirational and motivating.