Enterprise Books

A few years ago I went to my favorite metaphysical bookstore in Cambridge, MA, and asked them to recommend a good book for learning about Hinduism. They pointed me to The Hindu Mind. I've read many books on spiritual philosophy from different traditions and I can say this ranks right up there as one of my favorites. Mr. Pandit explains the many facets of Hinduism with intelligence and clarity. His straightforward writing style is easy to read and understand. The book is organized well also. He presents Hinduism from 3 perspectives: the philosophical, religious and cultural.

Mr. Pandit also includes a couple of chapters with philosophical perspectives on Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism as all 3 are offshoots from Hindism. He points out which aspects of Hindusim they kept and where their beliefs differ.

One of the things I love about Hinduism is how intelligent it is. Of all the religions I've studied it's one of my favorites. (Note: I'm a neopagan mystic.) The ancients recognized that people are different and that different temperaments are attracted to different spiritual philosophies. Hinduism is the ultimate melting pot religion, and is capable of containing the complexity of multiple spiritual belief systems unified by a few key threads. I'm sure that's why it's survived all these thousands of years.

No matter what your religious background, if you are an openminded person you wil learn much from this book that can be applied to your own path, whatever that may be.

This is the best book for Hindu-Americans who want to know every aspect of Hindu society, culture, and heritage. It is the only book written in Engligh that Hindu-Americans can understand and in a style they can relate to. I bought this at a Hindu Students Council (HSC)program and I know there are many people who have liked it as much as me. Look for his new book Hindu Dharma also

I found this book to be very well organized and indexed, making it easy to use as a reference guide. The book not only provides a solid foundation of all aspects of Hinduism, it illustrates the practical nature of these beliefs. Ancient Sanskrit verses that are still commonly used by Hindus today are translated while retaining there original charm. I also found that the book does a good job in clearing the common misperceptions of this religion and distinguishes between the actual religion and philosophy versus ascribed meanings by sources outside of Hinduism. I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those that are intrigued by this religion but don't want to be overwhelmed. If nothing else, the index, charts, tables, and illustrations will provide a wealth of information

This book is covers the development of African-American Business from The Colonial times to the present. It covers corporations, partnerships, banks and various other enterprises. You will enjoy this book.

This work fills a void in African American and general U. S. History. It is important for the general public, not just academia. Business success has became a negative image for too many youths, and this work shows that African Americans have always been successful within the capitalist system as entrepreurs, not merely consumers. It also demonstrates how African Americans have been a vital part of the economic development of the nation!

This book traces the development of black enterprise in America. It is a return to the days when communities, including those in the tradition of black Americans, placed enterprise at the very center of their activity. It also reminds us of the blue-print for success in America. More importantly, it is a return to scholarship which concentrates on the importance of self-help, enterprise building and the ability to think and act like a free person. Since the early 1960s, studies of failure have dominated literature on black Americans. This book returns us to literature which examine how people actually created economic stability in hostile situations. It also reminds us that the excellent literature on present day immigrant groups share a lot in common with the ealry literature on black Americans. A great piece of scholarship. It is also instructive to note that Madam Walker, Booker T. Washington, and Mr. Johnson are pictured on the cover. This denotes a time which entrepreneurs, rather than politicians and ministers, were the most important leaders in the black community.

Pamela Berthume has done something that is very rare in comparison of any homeschool book I have ever read... she has included all the aspects of homeschooling and family life in her own unique way. She starts each chapter with a poem (each she has personally authored) and goes on to "speak" to far more than just the classroom teaching elements of homeschooling into very real day to day real life moments/decisions/disappointments & triumphs.

If you are a veteran or new or prospective homeschool family, you will find the whole story here... the "real" story including how homeschooling fits into and becomes a lifestyle for most as well as how health issues and personal circumstances all become a part of that process as well.

I particularly like the way she left her original book in tact and added her new viewpoint from the perspective of a few years later. She included not only highlights, but also at times records changes in how she felt from her original writings. That kind of honesty and information I find to be very rare and very helpful to those walking their own homeschool lifestyle path. I find the book to be well worth the read... and at times downright enlightening in a way I haven't found elsewhere. I was pleasantly surprised with this book and highly recommend it!

I haven't wanted to put it down. Pamela has touched on every aspect of homeschooling, the good and the not so good. She is so real and honest. She has put my own short comings at ease with her honesty. She is truly inspirational with all that she has accomplished, but yet so down to earth. Her love for Jesus is so evident and she demonstrates how the Lord is included in every aspect of her daily life and schooling. I know that this will be a book that I pick up again and again to reread and to inspire me to continue. - Dana Russell (HS mom of three beauties).

I found such encouragement in this book. It tells the story of one home school family, with all its ups and downs: no whitewashed, "everything will be easy and perfect" book here! Pamela Berthume honestly details the struggles involved in homeschooling, but reveals the rich rewards in store for those who persevere. She outlines the "whys" of deciding to home school as well as the "hows": what to study, how to fit in chores, maintaining a relationship with your spouse, how to find support, etc.

Most importantly, she shows that a family with many health issues can home school and thrive. Because I share some of the debilitating illnesses she describes, I felt hope for my future as a homeschooling Mom. Anyone interested in homeschooling will find inspiration from Pamela's story, but if you have chronic health problems and home school (or are thinking about starting), you must get this book!

As in two of her previous novels World Like A Knife and Home Movie gifted author Ellen Akins again examines a world of uncertainties inhabited by the bruised and fallible. Once more her characters suffer from an inability to communicate with one another, struggling to understand and comprehend behind self-imposed boundaries of silence.

Set in a small mid Wisconsin beer town Hometown Brew is a complex, sometimes fragmented, tale of family rivalry, corporate machinations, and sexual liaisons.

Offspring of a Germanic father and Spanish mother, Melissa and Frank Johnson have inherited the family brewery, Gutenbier. Melissa, a single mother of an 11-year-old son, was left the lion's share of stock.

Brother and sister are a study in contrasts. Less exotic in taste and temperament than her south European mother, Melissa had her mother's "misleading" look, while Frank "seemed to harbor the passion of their mother's nature...secret and banked, only scintillating now and then in the fierceness of its restraint." Rather than open conflicts, their disparate personalities result in cold war skirmishes around the brewery's conference table.

A new brewery employee, Alice Rinehart, "...at seventeen had posed for some pictures that made their way into a men's magazine." "A shy and serious girl," the posing made her feel "admired by a whole anonymous audience of men who wouldn't normally have noticed her, and this secret power thrilled her..."

Fleeing from a failed marriage, Alice is one of the lost. After she reports being sexually harassed by fellow employees, her home is vandalized, and she is the victim of a retaliatory bottle rape. This scene, mind-numbing in its horror, underscores the unflinching honesty with which Ms. Akins surveys brutality.

At times, Alice's plight tends to overpower the story of Melissa vs. Frank as they clash over a proposed ad campaign and disagree on possible company financing in their ongoing struggle for control of the brewery. While the two tales do eventually converge, herein lies an unwieldiness of story line as issues are raised and left unresolved. Did the brewery's working environment allow sexual harassment to take place? What happened to the men who raped Alice? Did Melissa's son ever find the father he sought?

Were it not for Ms. Akins's fluidly subtle probing of her character's thought processes and life's exigencies, Home Brew might begin to sound alarmingly like a hastily made for television movie.

Much of the author's strength is found in her delicately mined observations, such as a young boy's response to his grandfather's death: "...Jesse hadn't lived long enough to suspect that the best was already past, or to learn that mourning might open the way to all manner of human sadness too deep and abstract for its own occasion."

Ms. Akins's work has been called "A kind of extended meditation on the dialectic of stripping and covering up..." That is apt description of her latest offering. Rather like a car trip on which the drive is more enjoyable than the destination, Hometown Brew impresses with many remarkable scenes but leaves us wondering about where we've wound up. Nonetheless, one wouldn't want to have missed the journey for this novel, with all its contradictions and complexities, is impressive.

- Gail Cooke

this is a rich, complex story about sexual politics--between a brother and sister, between coworkers, between a father and his children. set in wisconsin, the book is about the fight for control of the family brewery between a brother and sister. the questions of sexual harrasment mirror the famous Stroh's Brewery case of a few years ago. the book starts slow but builds in drama and momentum, becoming, at the end, a real page-turner. absolutely recommended.

I have been following Ellen Akins work for several years. For me, "Home Brew" was her most reachable work to date. In "Home Movie" and "Little Woman", Akins presented intense characters whose life issues were often personal and internal. In her collection of short stories, "World Like A Knife", these characters verged on disturbing, but with an ever present clarity and sense of drama. I have found that Akins artfully descriptive prose engage the reader, connecting you to the characters of the story. In "Home Brew", she has outdone herself. I was captivated by the two lead female characters, who portrayed a balance of strength and vulnerability which is so often a reality of human nature.

Akins books often seem to preceed current events - and she has again shown her uncanny ability in this regard. While I would not categorize her as an issue or feminist writer, she has frequently selected topics which are pertinent to our times, and perhaps give us pause for thought. But mostly, I read Ellen Akins books for the enjoyment of her beautifully created prose. In Home Brew - she has blended her literary style with zest, humor and a touch of suspense. I could not put this one down and read it cover to cover in one sitting!

A wonderful story that can illustrate to young and old alike, that we can all be instruments of God's love.

I read this book with little expectations, but it is really fabulous! I recommend it to anyone! It's so cute, and the pictures are great also.

It's refreshing to read a simple story with such a profound message. I offer my highest recommendation!

I've always thought economics was a dry, theoretical subject area. HOW WRONG I WAS! Ms Edwards makes the topic crunchingly relevant and digestable. The key concepts are clearly explained and related to recent events. I never knew how economics contirbutes to shaping our community.
This book has left me with a sense of urgency regarding economics. Government policies matter, not just for short-term budget balancing, but for long term impacts on how we think and act.
The autor's experience at the upper levels of the public service gives startling insight into why our politicians only seem able to create mind-numbingly similar 'solutions' to still unresolved problems.
A first-rate read. (Especially if you know an economist and you need some educated ammunition to argue your point!)

One of those books that expresses perfectly that gut feeling you have in your stomach that something is not quite right. Highly recommended!

This is a good book. It doesn't get bogged down in economic language or take too long to read. It provides a historical context to the last few decades of Australian politics and the way things have been done. It takes note of the relationship between the Tax Office and it's bureaucrats and those on the edge, the back bench Members of Parliment, and outer government agencies.

It goes into detail of the nature of Economic Rationalism. Although we may feel we understand it, this book gives examples and help us understand that which is around us but not necessarily understood. It talks about people, and how people see the world. It doesn't humiliate those of either side of politics and doesn't dismiss the beliefs we, or they have.

It is however, focussed wholly on the Australian experience of politics and the economy. This may put some international readers off, but on the other hand we already have enough books about how the American Market works. This book provides a good balance for those of us not under the American sphere of influence.

If read carefully! Will change your leadership style!

This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book on leadership development by a world renowned leadership guru. In "How to Grow Leaders: The Seven Key Principles of Effective Leadership Development", John Adair outlines the various theories, approaches and concepts of leadership development and training and distils them into seven key principles of leadership development. Using his wide and deep knowledge and expertise in the leadership field, he explains how organisations can recruit, select, train, and develop leaders who are capable of formulating and articulating a shared vision for their organisations or units, motivate people and facilitate the achievement of organisational, team and individual goals.

I was particularly impressed by the gracious and thorough acknowledgments in the book of the thinking and research of others. Even when the authors point out the weaknesses and limitations of a particular piece of work, they praise the positive aspects of that work in kind and thoughtful ways. This is one of the few academic books I have read that took such a considerate approach.

The book beautifully elaborates on the thinking processes that companies use to grow leaders so as to achieve competitive advantage I use the book as a quick reference guide and I find it very useful and helpful. This book carries pertinent information, but it is organised and written in such a way that is easily digestible. The book is recommended as a resource kit for the leadership trainer or aspiring leaders.

Rarely does a revolutionary write the history of his own revolt. However, that's exactly what John Adair does in this book. Adair is respected internationally in the field of leadership. His 1968 classic, `Training for Leadership', was a pioneering volume on leadership development. Although his work initially received relatively little attention in the U.S., it contributed to the current "leadership revolution," which has had a powerful impact on how companies train leaders. Today, in part thanks to Adair and others like him, companies no longer assume that "you either have it or you don't" when it comes to leadership potential. They are more willing to accept the idea that managers can be leaders, too, and should be trained for that role. Adair's book doesn't just peer in the rearview mirror of history - it casts a steady, discerning gaze at the road ahead as well. Using elegant, thoughtful prose enhanced with apt anecdotes and quotations, Adair establishes seven key principles of leadership development. His intriguing conclusion: while companies may mold the raw material of leadership, only societies and families can actually provide it. If "lead, follow or get out of the way" is your motto, we say have confidence - John Adair is marching to his rightful place at the head of the leadership pack. A must read.

I got this book based on the reviews, but am I disappointed. It is not worth the money. The author does not appear to be a florist but rather someone who just wrote the book. Save your money and look for a different book. I think all the info is easy to find on the internet.

In her 2008 release, "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Floral and Florist Business Both Online and Off," author Stephanie Beener covers all aspects of launching a floral business in a comprehensive, easy-to-use format. The text is informative, yet entertaining, making for a quick, educational read.

Before getting into the specifics of becoming a florist, Beener guides readers through a thorough understanding of the trade. The book covers different types of floral business such as retail, wholesale, greenhouse and supplier, as well as what type of demands business owners can expect to face. The content is designed to help individuals make well-balanced decisions in order to be successful.

Several chapters are devoted to the business side of operations, addressing marketing and advertising, communications, managing employees, legal considerations, customer service, finance and bookkeeping. Once past the business logistics, Beener focuses on what makes for a successful floral business. The book covers décor, inventory, supplies, arranging and pricing. The author does an outstanding job of balancing information for both new and experienced business owners.

The text of Beener's manual is interspersed with interesting statistics, helpful pointers and actual case studies. She offers practical, hands-on suggestions that are geared toward motivating and encouraging entrepreneurs during every phase of establishing a business. Many of the author's tips are innovative and steer readers to underutilized and often-overlooked resources.

Beener had dedicated a significant portion of her book to the ins and outs of how to launch a successful business. She covers a broad range of topics, yet manages to organize the information into manageable, logical segments. The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM with all of the forms referenced in the book and a pre-written business plan to help readers put their plan into action. The knowledge is applicable across industries, making "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Floral and Florist Business Both Online and Off" a valuable resource for anyone interested in building a business from the ground up.

Florist shop owners do more than sell plants: they create displays and atmosphere and this book displays and creates an atmosphere of success as it tells everything needed for running such a business, from arranging flowers to bookkeeping, business set-up, customer acquisition and retention, and more. A companion CD-ROM enhances this fine reference, perfect for business collections.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off, written by Stephanie Beener, explores every aspect of making a successful entrance into the Floral Industry, whether it be for purposes of following the path leading to a serious entrepreneurial endeavor or merely pursuing a comparatively lucrative hobby. The information provided in this book is thorough and extensive, but presented in an easily understood format that is well suited for the emerging florist, while still remaining a truly helpful and supportive reference source for the experienced floral professional. This book also proves to be an ideal introductory resource for students interested in exploring the possibility of choosing a career within the Floral Industry.

From its preface to its conclusion, How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off, guides the reader through the process of becoming a successful floral business owner, beginning with a brief discussion on determining if their personality and temperament are suited for the industry and ending with an expansive list of available resources to aid in the actual startup of a retail floral business. Ms. Beener includes everything from writing business plans to product selection, along with inventory maintenance, management strategies, and the practical application of ownership practices as presented in actual case studies of various floral professionals within the industry. Additionally, the inclusion of a companion CD-ROM offers further support for the reader. This impressive guidebook even includes a section on specific floral meanings, a glossary of floral terms, and a glossary of flowers.

This title should most definitely be recommended to anyone interested in any area of the floral industry. It offers an abundance of information that is both quickly and easily accessible. Considering its overall topic presentation, content, and readability, I would assign a rating of 5 stars to How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off.

I teach business management and have also co-authored a training manual which is currently being used under exclusive rights, so when someone gave me this book to read, it was of particular interest to me. You will run across endless numbers of publications on this topic from the very in-depth to the down-right ridiculous ones which portray the illusion "anyone still breathing can become a millionaire in one easy lesson." Obviously, some books in the marketplace can be extremely misleading. What they are doing is GRABBING your money, not MAKING you money! There are also some EXCELLENT books on starting your own business and this is one of them.

No book is ever going to teach you everything you need to know about owning and operating your own business - that is a life-long learning process; however, this book is an excellent place to start. Laws, agencies, etc. differ between the US and Canada, but many have a similar counterpart, and the very basic principles of operating your own business are the same. From planning, finding the money, hiring the right people, testing and protecting your idea, to market analysis, cash flow projections and the business plan - all this, and much more, is discussed in this top-notch book. In addition to the book, there is also an equally informative video available,titled, "How To Really Start Your Own Business," written by David Gumpert and George Gendron. I obtained the video through Inc. Magazine and found it to be an excellent learning tool.

I'm relatively young I suppose but I've always had grand dreams of entrepreneurship. I really like this book. It's got a lot of facts of what to do. It's also a very good reality check. This is good reading for any type of business idea. Certainly worth the money.

This guy has it down. I've never read a bus. startup manual that was more concise and easy-to-use! (And I should know. I just got funded!) He gives you the low-down, blow-by-blow, with no BS. He writes in plain, easy to understand English. He doesn't waste your time.

Unlike later and earlier books in this genre, this one strikes a balance between two world views: "theory X" (a set of ideas that exclude all needs, motivations, and influences outside authority and dependence) and "theory Y" (a set of ideas derived from imagining motivations and influences without managers). And the author maintains a style that never becomes unjustifiably preachy. There's a lot of optimism at times, but taken in the context of the entire book, it's acceptable.

Some authors never go out of style. By the way, McGregor makes it quite clear that under most circumstances, in most situations, and with most people the appropriate approach is "theory X." McGregor fully admits that the application of "theory Y" won't work except with certain people and under certain conditions. Applying "theory Y" in the wrong situations to inappropriate people is an all too common SNAFU. Though applying "theory X" in the wrong situations to inappropriate people is also a SNAFU, it is apparently rare.

This last paragraph was just FYI. In case a reader happens to be some kind of spiritually and socially abused polymath.

Unlike later and earlier books in this genre, this one strikes a balance between two world views: "theory X" (a set of ideas that exclude all needs, motivations, and influences outside authority and dependence) and "theory Y" (a set of ideas derived from imagining motivations and influences without managers). And the author maintains a style that never becomes unjustifiably preachy. There's a lot of optimism at times, but taken in the context of the entire book, it's acceptable.

Some authors never go out of style. By the way, McGregor makes it quite clear that under most circumstances, in most situations, and with most people the appropriate approach is "theory X." McGregor fully admits that the application of "theory Y" won't work except with certain people and under certain conditions. Applying "theory Y" in the wrong situations to inappropriate people is an all too common SNAFU. Though applying "theory X" in the wrong situations to inappropriate people is also a SNAFU, it is apparently rare.

This last paragraph was just FYI. In case a reader happens to be some kind of spiritually and socially abused polymath.

I have a confession to make. The second part of this book ("Theory Y in Practice." Chapters 5 thru 12.) was very hard for me to read. This difficulty was partially because in order to really gain some understanding of it, it forced me to judge myself. But this was more importantly because all the examples of Theory Y in Practice that McGregor himslef could find indicate that its application has limits and it requires discipline. To this reader, the limits and this discipline of Theory Y in practice appear far greater than that required by Theory X in order to be successful. For example, successful unschooling would require more discipline and commitment on the student's part than traditional public, private, or even homeschooling.

This book has influenced organizational management and development for decades. In his book, "The Human Side of Enterprise", McGregor examined theories on the behavior of individuals at work. His examination included Abraham Maslow's work on human motivation which greatly influenced his work.

From his examination, he formulated two models that he called Theory X and Theory Y. Theory Y is based on the traditional assumption that people don't really like to work and would only work if they were threatened in some way. Management assumes that employees would avoid work if possible. Based on this belief, managers would attempt to control workers in order to "make them work". Theory Y is based on the asssumption that people have a natural interest in work when it is a satisfying experience. They will apply self control and self-direction in meeting the objectives of the organization without external control or threats of punishment.

In "The Human Side of Enterprise", McGregor demonstrated how Theory Y affected the management of promotions and salaries and the development of effective managers. With the Theory Y (Participative Management Style), there were positive results. When management acknowledges that it is under estimating the potential of its employees and incorporates Theory Y assumptions, then it can focus its efforts on developing improved applications of Theory Y.

Although some organizations may find it difficult to incorporate Theory Y, it is still worth the effort to train management using this principle. The potential increase in productivity would be worth pursuing. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a involved in organizational management.