Future Books

Ever since Bill Moyers interviewed Joseph Campbell on PBS, the subject of myth has become far more popular, with a seemingly endless stream of books on the subject. Sadly, a lot of them have been superficial & New Age-y in the worst way, basically cheerful self-help dressed up in cloth-of-gold cultural couture. So you might be inclined to pass this one by as just more of the same.

Don't.

Phil Cousineau has written a fine, insightful book on the real & lasting value of myth, particularly the ways in which it plays itself out in our culture & our lives. He does so by choosing to focus on a few specifics, rather than simply using grand, sweeping examples that sound impressive but don't carry much lasting value.

So we have just 6 chapters, dense without being stuffy or impenetrable, with titles such as "The Myth of the Creative Struggle" (which delves into the myth of Sisyphus & its presence in everyday life), and "The Mythic Power of Mentorship" (which delves into the need for wise, encouraging teachers drawn from both life & culture).

In each chapter, Cousineau begins with an autobiographical example, which then leads into wider cultural territory. Importantly, while he conveys the positive power of the myth, he doesn't stint on the hard work it may demand of the individual. There's no "just live the myth & be a huge success" snake oil here!

For those readers in search of substance, rather than bland & empty homilies, you'll find it in these pages. Cousineau gives you much to think about, and he'll make you look at your life with refreshed vision. Highly recommended!

Once And Future Myths: The Power Of Ancient Stories In Our Lives by Phil Cousineau is an absorbing treatise on the importance of myths - whether as ancient legends, history, or the tales repeated in modern movies and popular culture. These timeless stories reflect and shape the lives of those who tell and enjoy them, and striving to understand them is a path to better examining and understanding oneself. A thoughtful and eruditely written account, Once And Future Myths is especially recommended reading for students of mythology, personal growth, and the universality of the human condition.

The clarity of the studies and writing used to explain Asia's consumer markets pre and post-meltdown, makes this book a really easy,and enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anybody who, like me, is trying to sell into the vast Asian market and needs some guidelines on the current consumer trends. I am most impressed with the authors' style as well as the thoroughly accessible lay-out and chapters headings that enable the reader to dip in and out at random. I have used this book as a resource for a number of trips and presentations that I have given in the past few months. Better than most.

I'm a frequent traveller to Hong Kong and the surrounding area, and the authors have really hit on something. South -east Asia is still in recession, but it's not a recession as we know it. It's merely slowed-down to a less frenetic pace.

My last visit to the area was in late December when I visited Hong Kong and Macau. I found this book really reflected what was going on after the 'meltdown', and is packed full of really invaluable info.

This book should be mandatory reading for every student. Many books have been written about globalisation, but most authors are biased in one or the other direction when describing the current situation, and are at a loss when it comes to developing a clear outline for present and future action. Dahl presents an unusually balanced history of successes and failures in the process of creating a global community, does not hesitate to recognize concerns that globalisation might just perpetuate self-serving interests on a multi-national level, entrusted with unquestionable and possibly dictatorial powers, but also develops a clear and convincing vision of the necessity and the possibility of merging nations into "one world, one people" by a carefully controlled, voluntary shift in attitudes rather than by forced catastophic events. There is hope!

The author provides great clarity and insight as to how developments in both technology and thought have shrunk the effective size of the earth. A compelling case is made for optimism, in that workable solutions to the worlds most serious problems are within our grasp if we view ourselves as one people and act accordingly.

The scope and depth of coverage of an especially important business subject in this volume are unsurpassed by any other single source of which I am familiar. (There are 952 pages of material provided within 47 entries, followed by References, Name Index, and Subject Index.) I acknowledge that I have not read all of the entries selected and edited by Joan V. Gallos, who also provides an excellent Introduction and contributed an article, "Reframing Complexity: A Four Dimensional Approach to Organizational Diagnosis, Development, and Change" (Pages 344-362). Rather, I carefully reviewed the table of contents and selected those of greatest interest to me, some of which I had read previously. I suspect that many others will take the same approach.

Gallos organizes the organization development (OD) material within eight Parts.

The OD Field: Setting the Context, Understanding the Legacy
The OD Core: Understanding and Managing Planned Change
The OD Process: Diagnosis, Intervention, and Levels of Engagement
OD Consulting: leading Change from the Outside
OD Leadership: Fostering Change from the Inside
OD Focus: Organizational Intervention Targets
OD Purpose and Possibilities: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
OD And the Future: Embracing Change and New Directions

Here are several of the articles I had read previously:

"Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail" John P. Kotter
"Enlist Others" James Kouzes and Barry Posner
"Business Strategy: Creating the Winning Formula" Edward E. Lawler
"The Leader's New Work: Building learning organizations" Peter M. Senge
"Knowledge-Worker Productivity: The Biggest Challenge" Peter F. Drucker

Here are other articles I read for the first time:

"What Is Organizational Development?" Richard Beckhard
"Teaching Smart People How to Learn" Chris Argyris
"Team Development" Glenn M. Parker
"Emerging Directions: Is There a New IOD?" Robert J. Marshak

I share these merely to indicate my own interests but also to suggest the variety of perspectives among the business thinkers. Of course, it remains for each reader to select those entries that are of greatest relevance to her or his own needs and interests.

Credit Joan V. Gallos for making excellent selections and then for organizing the material so well. To repeat, the scope and depth of coverage of an especially important business subject in this volume are unsurpassed by any other single source of which I am familiar. Bravo!

This was one of the texts used in my Organizational Development course in my MBA program. It packed a punch since it was a large reader, but had Readers Digest versions of very important OD related readings almost in a Reader-style (for those of you familiar with purchasing readers for class). All of the readings were beneficial, and by authors who are the fathers of the field. I highly recommend this for reference reading (look at the number of pages, its not a quick read) and for teaching organizational behavior type courses.

Intelligence distinguishes human from other life forms on earth. Most people take it for granted. Dr. Zhibo Zhang has surpassed common sense in dissecting human intelligence. In his book The Origin of Intelligence, Zhang provides tangible answers to some of the most intriguing questions such as, Why do people think?, How do the most intelligent people think?, and How to advance the thinking capacity?. Zhang presents an algorithm of intelligence evidenced by real life cases and thought experiments at both individual level and society level. Zhang then depicts the future of evolution in a nutshell. New knowledge is being generated at an ever increasing rate, and knowledge saturation is inevitable. The advancement of human intelligence demands moving beyond human brain's biological capacity. Zhang explores the existing knowledge structure and its implications on education and scientific research systems. Zhang takes the readers on a panoramic tour of artificial intelligence, and, in a logical way, asked the question, Will the marriage of brain and machine be an ultimate solution? Indeed, although quantum jumps are the hallmarks of knowledge advancement, gathering the right data at the right time in the right mind is probably the only way for that to happen. Zhang's elegant study on foreseeable technologies suggests a framework to enhance human thinking capacity.

In this quite original book, the author explores the basis of "the origin of intelligence" by crafting very creative and insightful theories, which underlie the very foundation of intelligent process. It is postulated that brute force searching and matching processes are conducted in the neuronal synapses of biological human brains, which can be similarly implemented in an astronomically large number of processing units of artificial intelligent machines. This unifying mechanism, presented convincingly in this book, is likely a major breakthrough in the understanding of the basic algorithm of intelligence. Furthermore, the author proposes a way to quantitatively measure the intelligence which depends not only on one's information processing power, but also critically on the size of one's knowledge data that can be associated together. This proposition will have profound impact on the understanding of important aspects of human creativity.

The author expands further on many facets of human knowledge base and proposes means that may be able to fix systemic problems in current academic and government settings that limit the further expansion of human knowledge. I wish policy makers could hear some of these thoughtful ideas so that those fundamental problems facing human society can be adequately addressed. This book is a rare treasure of deep thoughts.

I got the e-book version of this book from the paperless joy site. This book has really guided me or I should say inspired me to become a paperless person!! Honestly speaking, I always enjoyed reading in papers, but after reading this e-book, I have realized how important it is to become a paperless person; not only for your comfort, convenience but also for the environment and health (sections 14, 15 etc). I will recommend reading this e-book for at least once to get an updated knowledge and guidance for becoming a paperless person at-least by 50% (if not 100%). It was a pleasure reading this book.

I got the eBook version which can be read on any PC from the paperless joy website and have been reading - paperless - for the past days. This is probably the first and even only book to present general paperless work-styles in a positive and doable manner, instead of raising all sorts of hinders and criticism to actually going paperless. The first part provides a broad background on how the world is going towards paperless and the advantages to this. The second part is all about how to do it - even for the non-techie. This guide actually goes beyond describing the paperless practices and also gives the reader a number of tips on how to manage time better - in a paperless way - to get more done, or simply make more free time. This is a great book for anyone who believes in the use of IT, or gadgets, to become more effective and get rid of the paper clutter.

At last here is a serious book about parapsychology. This book is written by researchers, mostly parapsychologists, who have spent years conducting experiments on the paranormal - i.e., extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis, and a chapter by Vernon Neppe and John Palmer on out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and near-death experiences (NDEs). Other than that chapter, there's not a lot of material on life after death because Storm and Thalbourne have a book especially on this topic coming out this year called "The Survival of Human Consciousness" which can also be ordered on Amazon. "Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century" has 17 contributors, including a Foreword by Nobel-prize winning physicist Brian Josephson who happens to believe in the paranormal. He claims that it is not so much the parapsychological findings that inhibit the acceptance of parapsychology by a skeptical community as much as it is the emotional discomfort that sets in when they are faced with paranormal phenomena. But as Josephson says: "Science is not about being comfortable".



This is not an anecdotal account of paranormal experiences like most 'parapsychology' books. I don't think you can rely on books like that because they are full of opinion based on subjective experience, and there is no objective scientific evidence that those accounts are genuine; that they really happened in the way they are portrayed - not that those accounts are mistaken, but I think a serious reader who wants to get to the truth needs to access more reliable material than is presented in those "guess-what-happened-to-me" kind of books. "Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century" is pure science, and don't let skeptical sources tell you otherwise. In my opinion there's to much cover-up and denial. The only way you're going to get at what's really happening in parapsychology is to avoid the popular 'spin-doctoring' by skeptical authors and go directly to the horse's mouth. That is because parapsychological experiments and research at universities and other research institutes are conducted with the highest integrity by well-educated and trained individuals, and Thalbourne and Storm's "Twenty-First Century" is about the work of those individuals. It is based on nearly a century of scientific investigation conducted in the professional manner that is expected of academics.



Thalbourne and Storm's book takes a look at what has been achieved in parapsychology in the last century, and perennial authors like William Braud, Stanley Krippner, Gerd Hovelmann, Fiona Steinkamp, and the late Robert Morris, all propose possible avenues of future research in the field. I do get the feeling with these kinds of books (i.e., prospective accounts) that they sometimes are touch-and-go because it can be hard-going trying to predict what lies ahead, but these authors a very competent and seem to know what they are talking about. However, there are younger researchers always coming along, paradigms do shift from time to time, and in most cases research can only be conducted if there is funding - something Dean Radin comments on in Chapter 1. I was appalled at the shenanigans that went on at Stanford University. Apparently, parapsychologists get treated like this quite often.



"Twenty-First Century" is divided into sections (experimental, theoretical, and sociological) so there's something for everyone. I thought the experimental chapters would be heavy going, but the editors have made sure that things don't get too demanding. Chapter 5, for example, has some deeper statistical analyses placed in an Appendix, so the reader can skip these few pages without missing the point of the chapter. I was surprised how easy it can be to test ESP at home - all you need is ping pong balls, an opaque bag, and a score sheet! However, there are more technical studies being conducted on, for example, altered states of consciousness using the autoganzfeld set-up, which uses a computer and specially written software. The autoganzfeld experiment gets its name from the German word 'ganzfeld', which means 'whole-field' because the hearing and vision of the participant are suppressed so that ESP can be encouraged.



The theoretical section includes a new theory by Michael Thalbourne called 'psychopraxia' that makes 'psi' (i.e., paranormal effects) look like magic until you realise that "necessary conditions" have to be set in place before psi can happen. Some of these conditions - like relaxation - are known to be psi-conducive (and even necessary at times), but ongoing experiments are being conducted to find more necessary conditions. A chapter by Christine Hardy considers the human mind to be made up of a field of words and thoughts (she calls it a "semantic field"), and psi takes place because this field interconnects all living things.



The final section looks at the cultural significance of ESP and PK. Paranormal phenomena is as old as our species, and exists in every culture. James McClenon presents an interesting chapter on the role that ESP and PK plays in our lives, and it seems that it gives our species a healing advantage whenever we experience extreme crisis. Lance Storm has a close look at skepticism, and he argues that skeptics should be pointing their critical fingers at conventional science, before they take pot-shots at parapsychologists. Robyn Wooffitt tells us that the talk that transpires during a psychic event is part of the psi process, and just as important as psi itself. Similarly, Pamela Rae Heath, in the final chapter, looks at how people talk about their paranormal experiences. This chapter is very intriguing and most important, not just because it offers new avenues of research for parapsychologists, but also because we get an understanding of what it feels like when something psychic happens. I found it very surprising to learn that psychic experiences may be taking place all the time - even in sports like golf and basketball.



I recommend "Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century" to the curious reader interested in what is really happening in the world of parapsychology. The book is broad ranging so personal opinions and the constant repetition of a single author don't hamper you down. The book explores multiple viewpoints and a variety of approaches that make parapsychology an extremely interesting science. I am convinced myself that the future of parapsychology will grow and flourish, and one day - maybe soon - it will be accepted by the mainstream sciences. If you want to know where modern parapsychology is today, you can't go far wrong with "Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century".

This book was compiled by Michael and I with a very clear purpose in mind - to combat the unsubstantiated accusations that are passed off as healthy skepticism against the psi hypothesis. What you probably don't know is that university studies show that believers in the paranormal tend to be above average in intelligence; they are strong-minded and think critically - a far cry from the much-touted accusation that believers are weak-minded and superstitious. What you also probably don't know is that university parapsychologists - yes, they exist! - are doctors and professors; they are respected by their peers (as long as their peers are not hard-line skeptics!); they follow the conventions of the scientific method, their experiments are scrutinised and approved by university ethics committees, and their research papers are peer-reviewed by experts before they are ever published. On the other hand, skeptics consider themselves to be fair-minded in their criticisms against psi, yet many still re-iterate so-called `normal' scientific explanations for psi that they know have been proven wrong for decades. They do not conduct their own laboratory experiments to test psi for themselves, but instead they knit-pick over fine details, preferring to avoid the bigger issue of the incontrovertible reality of psi. They have even been caught cheating in lab-tests of psi, when brought in to be tested for their self-proclaimed psychic ability, and then made claims before a naive public that they fooled the scientists! - anything to bring doubt and mistrust to a world-wide community of scientists who pursue their science with honesty, diligence, and good-intent. There is documented evidence for all these claims. But trust me on this - "Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century" sets the record straight. It is cutting edge research into phenomena that will ultimately change the world's future for the good. Find out how - buy the book. Don't deny your own power to unearth the truth about parapsychology. Don't believe the distortions and unbridled rhetoric of skeptics and overly-opinionated reviewers. Accept our invitation and find out for yourselves.

Dr. Pueschel is well known as an advocate for people with Down syndrome, a leading expert in the field, and a father of a child with Down syndrome. A noted speaker at Down syndrome conferences across the country, Dr. Pueschel has revised his popular book with the latest information. The book covers a range of topics from prenatal diagnosis to stimulating your child's gross motor, fine motor and speech skills to pre-school to adolesence and on to adulthood. It also covers vital information about the most current legislation including IDEA 1997. This is one of the books that should be on every new parent's bookshelf.

New parents should be aware of Siegmund Pueschel's reputation in the community of families affected by Down syndrome. As both a doctor and father of a child with Down syndrome this book is a compassionate, accurate, and thorough introduction to Down syndrome for the new parent. It is among the first 5 books I acquired when my son was born and remains one that I look back to and appreciate for its quality.

Everyone who is considering starting a family should read this book. It is incredicble how your childs spirit selects you! You can prepare years ahead for your the arrival of your child and integrate this new member into your family with a higher sense of ease. I would also recommend it to anyone that has a young child. It will help you understand the dynamic of what our job really is as a parent. My husband and I do not have a child but this book is helping us to prepare and be the best parents we can be when we are ready. . .

My husband and I have read a number of books to help us fully understand what it means to be a future parent and what we can do to prepare for a successful and healthy conception. Dr. Rosen's book offered us an incredibly comprehensive view of the issues -- everything from practical tips on nutrition and lifestyle to explorations of the emotional links to your future child's soul. You'll find pearls of wisdom in this book that your own parents probably never even considered! It's well written, easy to follow, and the questions at the end of each chapter allow you to tailor the information to suit your unique needs.

The third book of a series about a boy, Sam Foster, who makes a time machine out of a portable CD player. He meets a girl named Meg Clayton who lives in 1850 and together they travel through time.

In this work, Sam and Meg travel to the year 2040 to check up on Sam's future. When they find out Sam will die in 2035, they go there to investigate the circumstances of his death. They end up learning a lot more.

The author's rendition of the future world is neither post-apocalyptic nor a world with exaggerated technology. The future world portrayed in this work is as different from the present day world as the present day world would be to the world of 1972.

During Sam and Meg's meeting with Sam's future self, his futurte self makes cryptic comments which may foreshadow future events.

The ending was great, as Sam has to deal with unresolved threads from his trip to the future, as well as dealing with the fact that looking ahead does not erase uncertainty from life.

This third book demands a sequel, more so than the second or even the first book.

Kristen Sheley's time-travel based Partners in Time series takes a dark and dramatic turn with its third installment. If you haven't read the first two (awesome) books in the series, do so, or else you might be a bit lost. "Future Shock" gives fans of time travel exactly what they've been waiting for: a glimpse into the future, although one not too distant -- the year 2035.

The future depicted in "Future Shock" is not a stereotypical dark, Orwellian one, nor is it full of exaggerated technology like the one depicted in Back to the Future Part II. It is a stunningly believable one, filled with subtle advancements in current technology (such as whisper-quiet, electric/ethanol hybrid vehicles; computers with RAM measured in zettabytes; and fingerprint-recognition software used to instantly identify any individual). But when you get wrapped up into the deep, complex storyline into which the protagonists Sam and Meg get tangled, you'll get past all of that future jazz. Sheley has created a deep and involving storyline that makes you truly care about the characters in it. She may be an "under-the-radar" writer now, but she certainly has a great deal of talent, and it is only a matter of time before the proper people take notice. I highly recommend this book series, and eagerly await Number Four. Keep 'em coming, Kristen!