Enterprise Books

As a graduate student in Psychology I get to read and correct mountains of papers from intro-level classes. Now that I am about to get my degree and start teaching those classes, I realize that students need a book that shows them how to write a sentence. This is the book I have chosen for my Principles of Psychology classes. Harvey's concise style and recognition of the pompous style most young college students choose to write in is enlightening and entertaining. The small book is filled with great examples of what not to do alongside examples of how to fix the problem(s). Even though I have literally decades of technical and academic writing experience, the book has helped me to be more concise and to link my thoughts together in a more readable and efficient way. I highly recommend this book for students and especially for teachers. So what if you are not teaching English - if you require students to write, your students will produce better papers (that you have to read!) after using this book. It's required for my psych class!

I'm a fan of The Elements of Style. I still have the students in my freshman composition class read it each year for its clear, concise guidelines to writing with style.

There are two striking flaws to that book though. First, the writing guidelines appear, too often, to my students as being arbitrary. In The Elements of Style, the logic behind good grammar rules is occasionally neglected in order to keep things brief. Each rule is just the truth because the book says so. Second, style is clearly a product of culture, and a result, the version of style Strunk and White offers fails to be as appropriate today as it once was.

The Nuts and Bolts of College writing amends these two errors. Almost everything in The Elements of Style is present here, too, but Harvey has provided a context sufficient for developing an understanding of these stylistic principles. He organizes the book according to values clearly desirable in writing: clarity, flow, gracefulness, etc. By discussing a principle such "using the active voice" within the context of clarity, Harvey effectively communicates why such an approach produces better writing. It's not just another rule to follow anymore. Additionally, Harvey's examples and his updates to stylistic norms make the book very timely.

In all, it's very handy tool in a writing classroom. I think it's the best of its kind currently available.

Anyone who wants a no nonsense approach for how to write (in general), needs this book. It teaches you how to write clearly and concisely and cuts through all the garbage. The author provides clears examples for what not to do and makes comparisons between good and bad writing. I highly recommend this book.

This is a helpful book, but lacks some key aspects needed in college level English classes. Example: paraphrasing is not covered. Quotes are covered extensively though. Good for the price, handy, light to carry, but could use additions.

The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing goes over the fundamentals of good essay writing such as concision, clarity, flow, punctuation, and topic sentence for a paragraph and so on. It is an excellent reference book for college students and writers in general. The book however does not go into term or research paper writing.

This book is very well written and timely. Diane covers the basics of simple shower etiquette from being a gracious guest of honor to then writing the perfect thank you note! The book gives wonderful sample notes for categories including meal drop offs, gifts for twins, and how to "tactfully" say thank you for a unique/unfamiliar item. Diane's style of writing is easy to read and very straightforward. I would highly recommend this book for all Expectant Mother's who will be having a Baby Shower!

Diane surely knows moms-to-be have a lot to think about! With her witty guide to writing thank you notes, she gives moms-to-be and new moms the words to pen gracious and thoughtful thank you notes. If you're worried how to write a thank you note for a gift you'll need to return- have no worries- she even gives guidance on that!

I got this book for my friend who is pregnant with her first baby, and looking through it - I wish I had this a few years ago when I was writing all my baby thank you notes! This book gives you inspiration and ideas for every gift imaginable. With a new baby, anything that saves you time and stress is a lifesaver.

Who has the energy to think of meaningful things to say in a thank you note after just having a baby?! This book saved me so much time and stress when needing to write all those baby thank you notes. Very well written and classy book.

Moms-to-be get helpful samples of personalized thank you notes for gifts received from baby showers in Diane Quast's book, The Pregnant Pen. The sample notes for every gift imaginable are creative and gracious. What shower guest wouldn't appreciate a well-written thank you note for their gift? This book also gives etiquette tips for the expectant mom concerning her baby shower. This little book will take the struggle out of thank you note writing and even includes a sample registry for items needed for the baby. And the cover is adorable! I heartily recommend it.

Patricia Mendez
Author, Easy Entertaining for Beginners

This is a great handbook for starting up a blog (corporate or private for that matter). There is a lot of great info backed into this little book. I would highly recommend getting it for your team if you are starting a blog that requires a lot of support and buy-in. Nice work Byron & Steve.

BTW: If you ever get a chance to hear them speak on the topic, take it.

I need a blog for the homebuilt aircraft community, particularly those working with composite (fiberglass) technology. I work alone and will require additional help with developing a good active blog. This book has helped me to ask the right questions of the professional IT type who must help me get the blog going.

DL Byron and Steve Broback have really done an excellent job in writing this very thorough primer on blogging for business. The book, actually, is more than a mere primer: its breadth is surprising. They've managed to cover virtually every aspect of business blogging in a mere 180 pages. Quite an accomplishment and one the authors can certainly take pride in.

The approach is linear, beginning with an explanation of what a blog is, determining the focus of your business blog, the varieties of blog, design, tools for blogging, writing the blog, getting noticed, monitoring and managing and ending chapter on syndication and other fine points they refer to as "beyond blogging".

What is impressive is how much solid information the authors manage to convey without overwhelming the reader. The writing style is comfortable and spare. They avoid technical language and do a good job of explaining each point.

Overall this is one of the best books on blogging I've seen. It is practical, not theoretical and the authors left dogma and cant at the door. They are clear that blogs are not miraculous but can certainly help a company advance toward its goals.

Well done and a worthwhile read that will serve as a quick reference after you've read it.

Jerry

I have already been blogging, but this book helped me focus my efforts in a way that may help my business. Lots of great insightful info, and common sense explanations in this book. I found it very helpful and easy to read.

Blogging isn't just for the chatty consumer: not with the appearance of PUBLISH & PROSPER: BLOGGING FOR YOUR BUSINESS. Here it turns into a viable approach for furthering business, coming from business owners who offer real-world techniques and ideas to blog to improve business. Learn how to start such a blog and build momentum and interest to promote a brand, products, or customer relations. The authors have extensive background in the blogging world and in business alike and have put their premises to the test, so this offers realistic ideas already applied to solid business pursuits.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I am not a designer nor will I ever have a design business; however, I am doing some home remodeling and thought that this book might give me ideas on how to "redesign" some rooms using the furniture I have. After reading through the book, I realized that it's geared more towards the design professional -- so I gave it to my sister-in-law, who is in the home design business, and she was absolutely thrilled. She was so excited, that she's now helping me "redesign" my rooms for free ... so the book was well worth the price I paid ;-)

This book is easy to read and has very helpful information that you can use. It contains things that you may not think about. I think if just about covers all items you would use in starting a business or just doing for yourself or helping friends with their home.

If you're looking to do interior redesign AND home staging simultaneously, I highly recommend both books by this author as they are easy to read, provide outstanding guidance, give you information on additional helpful tools and are flat out the best you'll find on the subject. I am a teacher and always on the hunt for tidbits and gems I can pass on to my own students. I got far more than I bargained for which pleases me greatly. The information is really to the point, very detailed, very precise. Both manuals are large and packed to the brim -- no fluff like some others. Get both by this author. This is a no-brainer.

When you really want specifics on a topic, you just need a book by this author and you'll find yourself immersed in the kind of details and guidance you were hoping to get. Not one to mince words, Jennings lays it all out with precision, yet keeping the information interesting and practical and sometimes a little humorous. She's got plenty of forms, plenty of decorating training (dealing with the professional ways to arrange a client's furniture), and even more guidance on how to move a client's possessions, plus all the set up, promotional and business side of things. An excellent read.

Jennings has a number of excellent books for the interior redesign and home staging business that fit together and build upon each other into a cohesive whole so that anyone can start and build a business from the ground floor up. This is her basic manual, which is filled to the brim with great advice and guidance, and she also has an advanced book called "Advanced Redesign", along with a couple more books geared for the home staging market. This book, however, shows you how to start up and set up your business, how to get clients, how to do consultations and price your services, how to market and promote it properly, and a good deal of excellent training on the design end of the business - the kind of stuff you won't get from others. For instance, at the end of the book she literally shows you the most common furniture arrangements used by professional designers. In most situations, one of these should be suitable for a typical room a person would work in. She makes the process easy to understand and gives readers the tools and examples to understand what to do, but also why they work so well.

The other books she has written show you how to add related products and services to your business to get the most out of your business that you can get. Since most people want to make profits from their business venture, the book gives you an excellent picture of how to go about doing just that, all in a clear, concise step-by-step analysis. All the books by this author are excellent and well worth the investment.

America. A legend. A dream. A brand like no other. Dick Martin, author of Rebuilding Brand America: What We Must Do to Restore Our Reputation and Safeguard the Future of American Business Abroad, considers America all that and more. In reaction to the unprecendented level of anti-Americanism sweeping the globe, Mr. Martin calls for a drastic overhaul of the way American companies conduct business. Whether domestic or international, the impact of American commerce is felt worldwide. Mr. Martin treats "the sad condition of America's reputation on the world stage" with a thoroughness any political scientist would applaud.

While the author plainly states he is not an economist or political insider, his background as the former Vice President of Public Relations at A&T shines through every word. Clearly he was privy to major players, including politicians, who attempted to build a shining star called America that people around the world would adore. Citing opinion pollsters such as Zogby International, Mr. Martin underscores the unfortunate timing of several endeavors, such as Charlotte Beers who was named by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to head up a global PR campaign to improve international opinion about `hard-hearted' America. Unfortunately, just as her tenure was getting underway in 2001, the terrorist attacks on the world Trade Center and the Pentagon sealed her early demise. Mr. Martin describes in great detail about her brave attempt to rebuild America's brand as the right PR gal at the wrong time.

Halfway through the book, we learn that anti-Americanism is not unique to the 21st Century. In fact, citing de Tocqueville and others, Mr. Martin makes the case that negative public opinion about America's choices has long been woven into the fabric of its existence. Globalization and the McDonaldization of virtually every country on the planet have led to contemporary feelings of ambivalence at best and hatred at the very worst. Interestingly, Mr. Martin points out how the French may despise Americans, yet they won't boycott burgers and fries. He investigates the psychology behind this distinction. McDonalds, for instance, has `glocalized' their franchise to include local tastes on the menu. Instead of beef burgers in India, they serve alternative meats. Nonetheless, the kitchen layout and work processes remain the same worldwide. According to Mr. Martin, such consistent messaging is an enormous achievement from which the purveyors of Brand America can learn.

The most compelling part of his book is his treatment of storytelling. A great part of public relations work centers around grand storytelling to evoke emotions and unforgettable associations with the brand you're trying to promote. King Arthur and the Round table, which undoubtedly pervades British mythology, stand for chivalry and honor. Levi's became an emblem of untenable freedom in Eastern Europe up until the early 90's It symbolized the Gold Rush, attaining wealth through sweat equity. We all know the Nike swoosh conveys the go-for-it athleticism that makes even seventy-year-olds Olympic champions. Why? It's all in the branding.

Brands make us a part of something larger than ourselves. It guarantees us an experience of unity, a connection with the Divine Spirit of the Good Life. It casts light into the shadows, grants hope to the hopeless, and builds a framework around which we create meaning in our lives. Dick Martin's book, Rebuilding Brand America, is an excellent treatise on what is good about America, on what we can do to improve our actions, and how to dismantle the one-way mirror so we can finally peer beyond the looking glass to see ourselves as others see us, too.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Sahm I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe, is an American expat writer and PR consultant living near Munich, Germany with her husband and two children.

Dick Martin's book is a very interesting, almost "prismatic" overview of the multiple issues driving anti-american sentiment in the world today. When first confronted with this type of challenge, American Business either searches for "scapegoats" or attempts to derive comfort from it's growing overseas profits, not seeing the warning signs of what's to come.

I've just seen that Dick Martin will be running a webcast on this topic with the American Management Association on June 20th. Check out their website for more information.

Several books have failed to see, or make, the points that Dick Martin develops in his clear, logical and hopeful book about the future of U.S. diplomacy and the role of American business. Martin draws from long and useful experience at AT&T for insights that make this especially valuable to people in business and business communications.

Can there be a more daunting challenge than restoring positive perceptions of the United States abroad? With 23 decades behind it, America in the 21st century faces a new and different landscape with a mix of confidence and uncertainty not unlike that of any young adult. Yet the gulfs among America and other nations seem to grow larger, while the confidence borne of common values appears to be evaporating in an increasingly fragmented world. Even among the English-speaking peoples, today's USA frequently stands alone.

Brilliantly researched, gracefully written and compellingly argued, Dick Martin's latest book taps a lifetime of experience in communications and attitudes to present a crisp summary of what went wrong, what's under way, and what might yet work. Throughout it all, Martin underscores the central point that this is more than an issue for pollsters and pundits. American business bears a significant responsibility for today's condition and faces a largely untapped opportunity for positive action.

Dick Martin's book clearly drives home to the reader the problems that the US faces due to the widespread anti-Americanism sentiment that currently prevails throughout the world. The book is well-balanced, thoroughly researched and timely. He offers a plan to prod government and business to begin the long, difficult process to reverse the loss of prestige and influence that haunts the US today.
This important book should be read and taken seriously by people throughout government and business. I highly recommend it as a must read.

Shocking Velocity is an excellent aid for managers and consultants wanting to drive change through organizations. The book contains several examples that make it easy to determine how an organization needs to change in order to be more competitive. In addition, the analogies presented in the book help in building a business case and "selling" it through the organization.

For anyone looking for simple, implementable strategies that will provide great value this is the perfect book.

This book demonstrates the power of using information for competitive advantage. If your company can mature beyond the phase where it can gather the data you need, you need to understand what to do with all of it. When I started reading the book I thought of it as a book for product companies -- but after reading it I believe the lessons in here apply to almost any company.

Excellent practical guide to supply chain management. Must read to create operational efficiency in your organization.

Shocking Velocity was the simplest book I have ever read on this subject. It is filled with illustrations that distill the essence of complex ideas, and makes them actionable in a unique context. There are stories, quotes, case studies and examples that will keep your attention, drive home the point and inspire you to take actions. It is written for these tough economic times. It doesn't stop at explaining concepts. It brings them to life and helps you apply the ideas in your unique context; applying these ideas can make all the difference between struggling for survival and growing stronger through the tough times by creating superior value. Supply Chain and Change management is not an easy concept to master. The book explains supply chain and change management in a very simple and easily implementable manner. If you have limited time looking and are looking for a supply chain solution Shocking velocity is the right one. Srikanth Srinivas has managed to master these concepts and the book is a pure example of his Brilliance. Srikanth you are the master!!!

At the outset, I share an opinion that there is nothing new, much less "shocking" in any of Srinivas' material but he does support his assertion that "small, focused changes to critical variables [can] result in a big impact on bottom line results." As he promises, his approach guides his reader step-by-step through "everything you need to understand, change, and strike the right balance between critical variables; and how making focused changes to these variables will result in superior Value." Frankly, I could have done without so many capitalized words and exclamation points throughout the narrative. Also, I encountered no "breakthrough concepts." Moreover, I question Srinivas' claim that the changes he recommends will be "entirely self-funding." If these changes are achieved, they will be well worth whatever investment is required; indeed, their ROI could be substantial. Given the cost of this 109-page manual, its own ROI will depend almost entirely on how relevant the material is to each reader's specific cicumstances, and, how effectively Srinivas' recommendations are implemented.

Nonetheless, I still think the material is solid and well-organized. Here's the situation. Srinivas' tells a "story" which features two former schoolmates named Tony and Freddie. Cleverly, Srinivas uses his business narrative to illustrate applications of the aforementioned concepts. For example, how performance measurements can be used to monitor progress and how to create a culture of continuous improvement. The objective, obviously, is to "sustain operational excellence, and stay competitive and agile." It would be a disservice to both Srinivas and to those who read this brief commentary to reveal what happens after Tony and Freddie are by chance reunited.

For whom will this manual be most valuable? In my opinion, owners/CEOs of small-to-midsize organizations which have fewer resources and thus a much lower tolerance for the consequences of waste. I presume to suggest that they read and then re-read Srinivas' manual, carefully absorbing and digesting its material, provide copies to key people and ask that they do the same, then meet to identify and discuss what the given organization's "critical variables are," and, which "small, focused changes" will add substantial value to customers and thus to the organization. Do not expect immediate, "breakthrough" results. (Note Srinivas' use of the word "small.") Be both persistent and patient. Think in terms of a Bunsen burner rather than a sparkler. Forget about "shocking." Make haste slowly. Good luck!

I've read a lot of books on women and business over the past year, and this is one of my favorites. Ginny Wilmerding doesn't have flashy branding in this book, which I appreciate as many of them do in excess. It is a straight forward "here's what you are dealing with" explanation of business options and what they mean. It is very well written with examples from several woman business owners including herself.

Melanie K
www.relishforwomen.com

This book has useful information that will assist me in moving ahead with my plans to open my own business. I'm glad that I purchased it.

This book is a good reference, or starting point when thinking about entrepreneurship. I wouldn't suggest it for someone who already strongly has a passion they'd like to pursue, however, as it does not go deep enough into each business path exploration.

It does seem to be a bit heavy on positives of franchising - if that's something you're considering looking into, it might be a big plus.

Not the most inspirational book I've read, but it is clear, informative and well-written.

Honestly, I have yet to read a book that truly has creative ideas on how to make the leap from a salaried job to the right small business with as little risk as possible, which I feel is what holds many back.

This book not only gives you the information needed to start a business, but it goes a step further and gives you other alternatives to starting a business, such as partnerships, consulting, etc. I would especially recommend this book to women in the workplace who are wives and mothers that are feeling pinched by their working lives, and are seeking balance between work and home. The author does an excellent job in providing guidance on how to figure out what your best fit is in the small business world. This book is a must read for all aspiring entrepreneurs. You will be enlightened and inspired at the same time. Thanks Ginny, for putting your thoughts to paper so that others might benefit as well, because we have been in great need of a book such as this. Your thoughts are just what I believe most women need to hear and know.

At first I thought "here goes yet another book about women entrepreneurs." But, this one is actually different - you don't have to come up with your own idea of a brand new business to launch. Instead, Wilmerding focuses on how you can buy already existing businesses and franchises. While all of the information is practical, there are two really good sections including the one on partnering and the logistics of how to actually go about buying a business.

In my line of work, I get to see many well-intentioned women try to reinvent the wheel on a weekly basis (i.e. launch businesses in an already crowded and competitive market). This is why I applaud Wilmerding's focus on encouraging women to buy into existing businesses. In Hollywood they say there are no new stories, just different ways to tell it. I think unless you are creating an ipod or something truly new and different, sometimes it's best to look around for something to buy into that already has a track record.

On a related note - I attended a Working Mother's Symposium recently and the message I kept hearing over and over was that small businesses were better for working mom's especially those who are single moms or have alternative situations. So, by all means consider running your own business, but don't rule out the possibility that the right business for you is already out there.

Excellent resource for those people who choose to work at home and make a living.

A Great easy read book on real home based business'. has humor and good advice all at the same time

I would recommend this with no problem.

This book is full of great advice. It many instances, the author is sharing what he has learned through hard experience, so that the reader does not have to duplicate the mistake. This is a must read for any budding entrepreneur.

I highly recommend this book to anyone starting a business. It is filled with many helpful tips, ones that point out what you should be doing, and others that point out what you shouldn't.

This book gives me the knowledge and positive attitude to get through the first few difficult months. To be honest, I kept knocking on the wrong doors until I found this book. I felt like Christopher Columbus without a map. I wasn't sure what to do, who to trust, and what was really important and what wasn't, what to spend money on, the value of bartering, the importance to advertise, and how to structure my day so I don't work too much or too little. Working from home is very different than working in an office. The book has helped me set attainable goals, set priorities, and what is important to do right now.

Dan Furman's book is a gift to anyone starting a new business. The book is direct, to the point, and funny. It covers a multitude of subjects and I take it with me wherever I go. I jot down ideas during the day and Start & Run has everything I need to know. A new business is like having a baby. It takes the same care, time and attention that a newborn needs. I found starting my business was like having my first child. I didn't have a clue what to do first. There were so many first-time, important decisions to be made and I kept looking for a mentor. Well, I found one here.

Five Stars

As the owner of a successful and well-established home-based business, I continue to read on the subject. I found this to be a very interesting and well-written book. The sections on marketing and establshing financial systems and price points were particularly well done.

The weakness to this book is that it did not address people with a business/corporate background (other than computer skills). If anyone has such a background (as do I), the executive search/recruiting field is one to strongly consider. For thorough information, the book Search and Placement! A Handbook for Success by Larry Nobles and Steven Finkel is the only comprehensive foundational work.

That said, those without that background should find this book to be of definite worth.

Tales From the Networking Community provides a pragmatic, common sense approach to the art,and skill,of effective networking. Using anaologies, stories and "tales" Dan Williams does a very good job of laying out the basic concepts required to develop and leverage business relationships. A good,quick read!

This book shows readers the importance of establishing a business relationship with other business owners and promoting another business. How better can we live our lives in "Faith, Hope, and Charity" than by promoting a friend's business. A referral for another comes back to you one-hundred fold. This book is a must read for every Home-Based-Business or regular business owner that wishes to make money in the marketplace. Thanks, Dan for showing us the way. Read the book and succeed!

What a terrific job Dan Williams has done to create an essential guide for doing business in the 21st Century. Williams' understanding of the importance of relationship building and networking in today's marketplace is right on target.
For anyone interested in building a successful and enduring business, this little ditty is a must read.

Any person serious about networking in the business world must read this book and memorize certain passages. There is no reason to re-invent networking when you have this book in hand. Thanks to Dan for a marketing masterpiece written for the layman. Everything I ever learned about networking is covered and placed in proper perspective in this powerful book.

Business professionals would do well to read this insightful and helpful look into business networking from an author with extensive experience both here in the Washington DC market and in other states as well.

Dan provides an easy read that draws the reader into real life experiences noted first hand from a thought leader of networking.

Jeff Arnette, Professional Networkers Alliance, Chair

I really enjoyed this book. It was straight forward, to the point and provided some great best practices as solutions to some common security problems. A major problem with security is management. Too often the people making the important decisions do not understand the information that they are given.

As the authors point out, Managers and technical staff speak different languages and that is the key problem here. Managers that read this book will gain a clear understanding of the problems that the IT staff faces, and IT people that read this book will understand the management side and will know how to speak to non-technical staff.

This book is a perfect introduction to security and related business concerns.

This is a really good introduction to security for non-technical and IT personnel. It covers a lot of subject matter including disaster planning, and writing a security policy. This book is an excellent resource for managers who need a clue. It is written better, more organized and more helpful than "Secrets and Lies" and other similar books. I recommend this book for anyone that needs a good overview of security. You may not be a CISSP after you finish it but you will understand what a CISSP is saying.

This book is a great overview of security and policy development. This is not a technical book, it does not teach you the specifics of any particular OS, or how to configure software. It does ask key questions, and gets you thinking about security programs and business practices. The policy template is an added bonus. I gave this book to my manager to help convince her that we needed to look at security differently and budget for it.

This book is a great starter book on information security! I was wading though my copy grumbling "I know this, this, this...", when it occurred to me that I am not the intended audience.

For some time, one of my friends was asking me for a good book on security for somebody who knows absolutely nothing about it. I gave him "Access Denied" - and now he is hooked. Several weeks has passed by and he is already asking for "Hacking Exposed"...

"Access Denied" covers a wide range of security-related topics. The book is well written, logically organized and have everything to appeal to the beginners in the security field, those curious about modern (if not cutting edge) security topics and those migrating to security from other IT fields.

Anton Chuvakin, Ph.D., GCIA, GCIH is a Senior Security Analyst with a major information security company. His areas of infosec expertise include intrusion detection, UNIX security, forensics, honeypots, etc. In his spare time, he maintains his security portal info-secure.org

This book is a great introduction to security concepts and procedures. I've used it as a resource for college papers and I have used the templates to start a security policy. I recommend it to anyone that needs a well written primer on security.