Future Books

Whether you personally like Howard Dean or not is beside the point: he has moved the Democratic Party light years into the future. If you're a Democrat, you should understand that history in order to honor it. If you're a Republican, you should understand that history in order to surpass it. And if you're a Nader supporter, have I got a bone to pick with you . . .

This is an excellent book, and will be interesting to anyone who cares about political organizing and democratic power. It is a very unusual political memoir, written by people who participated at all levels of the campaign, each of whom speaks from his or her own point of view. The authors offer frank, searching assessments of the campaign's many successes and failures. They also tell wonderfully compelling stories drawn from both the heights and depths of the movement.

Professor Kay draws on his extensive Department of Defense and academic experience to produce a thought-provoking overview of the key issues before the Euro-Atlantic community. Always irreverent but challenging, Professor Kay has produced a no-nonsense volume which is a must read. John Borawski Director of the Political Commitee NATO Parliamentary Assembly 1987-1999

Undoubtedly, few scholars, who have also served in government, capture the essence of NATO's Cold War evolution and its post-Cold War transition as Sean Kay does in the first edition of his excellent work, NATO and the Future of European Security. An increasing number of scholars and policymakers see the value of using this book as both a curriculum and reference tool. Yet, unlike so many works on NATO and European security, Kay's analysis offers both the theoretical framework for understanding the importance of NATO's post-Cold War transformation and the rich analysis of the complex and enormous changes the premier alliance endured during the past decade. As an updated edition most assuredly will demonstrate, NATO's crossroads in the aftermath of the Kosovo operation and additional mission on the ground in the Balkans promises to challenge NATO leaders well into the twenty-first century. Coupled with his recent spate of journal articles on key issues confronting NATO's credibility, Kay's work continues to provide the academic and policy-making fields with important questions to consider. This is required reading for student, professor, and policymaker, alike.

From this book I learned more about the territory, the Pacific region, the United States, and Faleomavaega. This man has worked toward a positive direction for American Samoa with regards to the Pacific and U.S. Much of the content of this book can still be applied today in the territory. For Samoans in the U.S. we all have ties back to Amerika Samoa in one way or another. This book covers a few of the issues that effect Samoa, compromising traditional cultural values and the influence of the modern world.

Few Americans know that the United States still owns a relic from the Age of Colonialism below the Equator, and that this "possession" is not faring so well after 101 years of benign neglect. Congressman Faleomavaega is a gifted writer. Few people could cram quite so much information into 142 pages and still have the result highly readable. But it's not a happy story when for 51 years the proud people of American Samoa had their Governor appointed by the US Navy, and then for another 26 years their Governor was always a personal friend of the Secretary of the Interior. Yet the author is basically an optimistic person, and he continually cites the many accomplishments of Asian and Pacific Island Americans, and the success of local initiatives in agricultural development, commercial policy, and educational achievement.

I was really surprised that a Member of Congress could endorse the pagan and gruesome Ritual of the Tatau. The current medical literature suggests that severe physical punishments during initiation rites can be life threatening. And then after such a persuasive plea for Americans to take Pacific policy seriously, the Congressman asks for only half a loaf. After 101 years of being required to be Americans, the people of American Samoa deserve Commonwealth or Statehood status. If their price for joining the Union is permanent protection of the Samoan tradition of communal property ownership, it is doubtful that very many Americans would object.

There is a lot about this book that sets it apart from other advice-to-managers books. Perhaps the most significant is that it offers actionable suggestions to managers at all levels. It is not just for the CEO or other high level managers. In addition, the suggestions are not just opinions or the experiences of one company. They are backed with high-quality studies that are applicable across a broad range of firms. Even with my thirty years as a manager at a Fortune 50 company, I found the book to offer many opportunities for improving the competitive advantage of my function.

I took the title of my review from one of the 12 reviewer testimonials that appear on the back cover and on the back of the the first page:"This book is a must read for managers concerned with guiding their organizations into the information age. THE NECESSARY NATURE OF FUTURE FIRMS represents the first rigorous in-depth effort at anticipating the shape of new organizations by combining and interpreting vast management research literature and presenting it to managerial audiences. The book is very accessible to a broad managerial audience."

What first attracted me to the book is that the majority of the testimonials are from very, very accomplished authorities, people who seem to have reached really high stature as faculty at the top business school AND who have been successful authors themselves of books for managers. What then impressed me was how readable the book is. Knowing that it was written by a professor, I suspected the worst, but found that the book was actually an enjoyable read, with lots of examples, some from the author's own experience. But make no mistake, this isn't a shallow book with large print, lots of white space, three bullets per page, and unsubstantiated assertions. To the contrary, from two other testimonials: "This book stands head and shoulders above the many management books offering short-term fads, fashions, and therapies of the moment." and "THE NECESSARY NATURE OF FUTURE FIRMS is cleverly written, grounded in history, integrates an unusually extensive survey of organizational research, and is filled with evocative examples and practical guidelines." I found these comments to be on target.

Applying the theory contained in Necessary Wisdom has enriched relationships in every aspect of my life. This book contains a rich bag of tools imperative for effective leadership in our times.

NECESSARY WISDOM is aptly named. It suggests conceptual tools,and gives lots of examples, for how people, nations, and "systems"(from internal to external) can transcend the binds that tie us to the past, to move into a healthy future.The book's cover shows a bridge‹-a central metaphor for moving beyond polarized ideas of right and wrong, conservative and liberal, fact and fancy, structure and freedom. In fact, Johnston explores the psyche of culture, as well of the psyches of individuals, with grace and aplomb. What the book lacks in depth is more than made up for in breadth. In fact, readers are continually asked to test Dr. Johnston's ideas‹-called "Creative Systems Theory"‹-against their own. He tells illustrative stories that explain sometimes heavily theoretical paragraphs.The tools and tales contained in this book comprise a guidebook for the future‹-not a how-to, exactly, but more a when-to, why-to, where-to, and where-not-to. He shows how to avoid traps of simplistic thinking by adopting a "third space" perspective, bridging across apparent contradictions. He brings his artist's eye, his psychiatrist¹s ear, his incisive intelligence, to questions (which he demonstrates are more important than answers) about the future.

This is an awesome book for those who want to understand mining agreements, their purpose and functionality. It gives you a broad knowledge about political and legal issues related to each contract scheme. As a tax practitioner, I've been able to understand the reasons beyond the mere political issues related to mining taxation.

This is an awesome book for those who want to understand mining agreements, their purpose and functionality. It gives you a broad knowledge about political and legal issues related to each contract scheme. As a tax practitioner, I've been able to understand the reasons beyond the mere political issues related to mining taxation.

Ken Thompson has made a significant contribution to the world of commerce in the electronic and virtual age. He brings a wealth of perspective, knowledge and experience from his work focused on teams and networks and applies it to networking enterprises. You are going to find this like eating a rich piece of chocolate--every page is so content-abundant that you will be pausing regularly to savor and digest it.

Don't just think about virtual enterprises. Consider virtual collaborations in networks that will serve to expand mutual opportunities for growth.

You will also find that while the virtual aspect of the book will prompt some stimulating contemplations, the practical applications of the concepts will provide some concrete depictions of virtual enterprise networks in action.

Read it and reap!

Ken Thompson provides a compelling and well-evidenced case for managing collaboration between SMEs through an emerging organisational form - the Virtual Enterprise Network.

However, unlike some more theoretical or academic books which touch on this area, Ken actually provides practical guidelines about how to both assess the potential value of the collaboration over time and how to go about creating the VEN as a legal entity with clear roles for participants.

The book is divided into two parts. The first provides a thorough overview of the subject from a business perspective and the second provides a valuable implementation guide.

In part one, Ken explains in clear business terms what a virtual enterprise network is. His comparison with other structures (such as clusters, trade associations and networking groups) is particularly illuminating. He goes on to provide the business case for VENs drawing on real life examples from different industries, and he underlines the strategic importance of VENs (in a global context) as a catalyst for innovation. The book then goes into further detail about the components of a VEN providing excellent information, amongst other things, on governance and legal structures. A series of case studies from around the world illustrate the full potential of such networks as well as some of the issues faced in their creation. This is followed by some insight into the future of VENs as part of the global economy.

The second part of the book describes the processes and roles required in the development of a VEN and will prove invaluable to any organisations assessing their potential to collaborate with one another.

Business owners and strategists who take the time to read this book and work on their own collaborative business models will end up with a strong competitive edge over businesses that fail to embrace collaboration as part of their overall strategy.

Having had the blessing of being introduced to this book (and Bill himself) by others that had encountered his passion for Christ and the very specific mission he assigned to believers throughout the ages... I must insist that this book be a core ministry formation tool.

WOW... this is the short phrase that I remember saying once I understood the basic idea outlined within these pages... the idea that Christ had a very specific approach to "how" he made disciples... and the specific plan or pathway that Jesus used in the "disciplemaking" process.

Honestly, I don't like to read... for pleasure that is. I LOVE TO READ for information... or learning... and you will find yourself not wanting to put this book down until you have internalized (or should I say "eternalized") the ministry work of Jesus... and the simple yet profound impact that this work will have on everything else you do as a follower of Christ.

If you are a leader of ANY level... and you haven't read this yet... buy it NOW!

If you don't consider yourself a leader... I suggest the idea that at all times, we have a triad relationship with people that influence us (and those we influence.) --- it starts like this: YOU ---> following after an AUTHOR, a COACH or LEADER of some sort.

We all do this to some extent... from there it quickly turns into this: SOMEONE ---> following YOU ---> following after an AUTHOR, a COACH or LEADER of some sort.

All this to say, even if you don't feel like a leader... you'll see very quickly that by applying the ministry pathway model that Christ used... we all lead in some fashion...

SO THIS BOOK IS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN... you'll thank me for this (and Bill of course) :o)

This book is a must for anyone who has a burden for obeying the Great Commission. You will be delighted and touched when reading about the ministry of Jesus in making disciples and you will receive insight in how you can become an effective disciplemaker.

Deftly edited by Christopher R. Seitz (Professor of Old Testament and Theological Studies, University of St. Andrews), Nicene Christianity: The Future For A New Ecumenism is a selection of scholarly essays by a sixteen erudite and knowledgeable contributors about the relationship between the ecumenical frameworks of contemporary churches and the Nicene Creed of the early Christian church. Exploring ecumenical and practical considerations with regard to the Nicene Creed in the modern day, Nicene Christianity is a fascinating, informative read, and a welcome, recommended addition to Christian Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference shelves.

Nicene Christianity:
'Nicene Christianity' is all about the relationship between contemporary churches and the ecumenical benchmark, with reference to the Nicene Creed of the early Christian church. For an AmeriCoptic catechetical teacher, Nicene Orthodoxy was formulated and defended in Alexandria by Athanasius and Cyril, when the Church was ecumenical, Catholic and Apostolic.
This is a fine, systematic and thematic book, written by 'Church-Class' Doctrinal theologues for in depth explorers of the core of Orthodox Christian faith, in today's postmodern world, viewed from an ecumenical perspective.


Essays; Soteriology to theology:
Here, the essay's Evangelical theology stresses the continuity with the New Testament, the creeds, and Protestant reformation. But rather than its emphasizes on the infallibility of Scripture, salvation, the cross, and, conversion, Nicene Christianity, is represented as the task for the Christian faithful and Ecumenical Church to witnesses and actively engage with the 'Good News', the Father's revelation in the Gospel of Jesus. The ideal (& Christian) way to affect the message is ecumenically, in humility and modesty. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox proclaim much the same spirit which is in strong support to the 2001 conference, and the essays.

Contribution & Editorship;
Christopher R. Seitz, with other fifteen fine theologians present in this volume, a creative re-exposition of the Nicene Creed by many leading doctrinal and systematic theologians, who contributed to the Charleston conference. Every essay is a thoughtful expression of the theological mind of a unity of Church creed, within the creative diversity of personal and denominational perspectives.
If there is some tension in the general theme of few essays, it is rooted Barth's thesis of Evangelical Theology. The Bible and the creeds, look sometimes controversial and with competing claims to truthfulness (Take the Chaledonian Diophysite nature of Christ, without any true or apparent allusion to scripture).


'Credo Catenata' Sampler:
After an interesting first chapter by editor Seitz, on 'Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth,' the next four chapters have a central focus on the inquiry on Christological mystery.
Alan Torrance highlights the incoherence of Arianism; if Christ is not "of one substance with the Father," then humanity's encounter with the Son is not actually an encounter with God. Gunton underlines, meanwhile, that only God has the power over sin and consequently victory over death, to the disadvantage of the wanting Arian christology. Gunton claims it as a recurrent and contemporary revisited heresy, not merely an ancient schismatic history.
Jenson presents his view, on pre-foudation christology, in which the eternal Son has always been in fellowship with the Father prior to the incarnation. Athanasius has always declared: "There could not be a Father without His only begotten, eternal Son." The essays appeal to Scripture as much as to ecclesiastic history and Church tradition.

The Nicene Church:
Wm. Abraham spells it (I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and apostolic church) in a short paragraph; "I began this way for two reasons. First, it illustrates a useful and long established way to focus our thinking about the church. It is very fitting and relatively easy to think in terms of images of the church. ... Second, the images employed here are intended to correct what is endemic in much thinking about the church, namely a tendency to idealize."

Burke does another fine job with this book. In addition, I recommend "Strategic Organizational Change" by Michael Beitler.

To me, this book represents the soul of OD. It defines for the practitionaire what it means to be an OD consultant, its values and consequently, the type of interventions we choose to use. A must buy.