Organization

Bouchery's two volume set on the Late War British Army is very useful for wargamers, historians and reenactors.

Volume 1 is especially good, with its mind-boggling number of full colour photographs of artefacts from world war 2. Ever want to know what a British Soldier's cigarette lighter looked like in 1944? - well, you can find that here. Want to know what the cap-badge of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division looked like? You can find a full-colour photograph in here.

Volume 2 is a little disappointing. I wasd expecting modern photographs of surviving British tanks, but the book is instead full of black-and-white photgraphs. Layout is much more haphazard and unprofessional than the previous book, with much of the space wasted. This is unlike the previous volume, which was incredibly compressed and filled with information on every page. Given these flaws, it is still useful, especially the section on British armoured formation markings, which is information that is devilishly hard to get hold of. Also the unit formation guides are quite good, if you can get past the excessive colouring-in.

Bear in mind that these volumes are hastily translated from the French, and contain many errors. Their layout generally is not very professional.

Given all that, these are still valuable books, on a subject that is rarely dealt with. Most such books talk about the German army, never the late-war British.

Volume 2 of Bouchery's very broad and deep look at the British Army in Europe from the Normandy invasion to the surrender of the Nazis has a typo on every page, and the translation is embarassingly bad. Still, its worth the [PRICE] I laid out for it, because, of its 144 pages, almost every one has a very cool photo, diagram, or chart of some British small arm, vehicle, gun, insignia, organization, or unit, and most have more than one such illustration. If you want to know what regiments were in some particular UK division in 1944 or '45, and want to see detailed photos of the weapons and vehicles those regiments were equipped with and know how many were issued to them, this book is for you.

I have for some time noticed that a large number of specialist World War Two books are published in France and only in French. I have even purchased some of these and spent hours translating them page by page. It is therefore good to see that this book has been published in English.

From the opening chapter, on headgear, onwards the level of detail is superb. Each page is filled with colour photographs of equipment and detailed diagrams. By way of example four pages are devoted to the different colours of field service cap for almost every regiment in the British Army. Badges, medals, uniforms, food, webbing, even underwear are all illustrated and detailed. A chapter is devoted to Airborne uniform and equipment.

Very occasionally the translation from French can be seen in the text but the detail and otherwise excellent production quality allow the reader to ignore these small foibles.

The book covers all aspects of British army dress, individual equipment and insignia for the period from D-day to the end of the war. It stops short of including the order of battle and detailed organisation of the Army but the author assures us that these will be the subject of Volume Two in a series that I hope continues.

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the British Army of this period.

Here is one of the best of the hundreds of books which cover most (if not all) of the same subjects in a single volume. The authors of this one combine a textbook (without pedantry) with a manual (without condescension). Their material is organized in a series of "Units":

1. Overture [eg "The Communication Process"]

2. Managing Relationship Life in the Workplace [eg "The Art of Listening"]

3. Managing Work Life in the Workplace [eg "Managing Stress and Conflict"]

4. Managing Public Life in the Workplace [eg "Establishing Your Presentation Goals"]

5. Managing Techno-Life in the Workplace [eg "Three Tips for Managing Techno-Life Competencies"]

As these "Unit" titles correctly suggest, the authors provide both a system and a process to increase business and professional communication skills. They include a wealth of specific suggestions as well as real-world examples which suggest HOW to derive the greatest benefit, both from the system and the process. For whom will this book be most valuable? For experienced executives, it offers basic but useful reminders of what they probably know already (at least untuitively) or what they have learned empirically; for less-experienced executives, it offers what may well be new ideas, strategies, and tactics which can help to accelerate their career development.

As a student, I used this book for a class and continue to use it every day as a reference tool as a professional. The authors provide thorough insight backed by years of professional experience. I would stongly suggest this book to any individual looking to enhance their professional skills/appearance prior to or upon entering the workforce, and professors in business management and/or communication arts.

Book is divided into four easy-to-read sections: relational life, work life, public life, and techno-life. Addresses such topics as listening, communication styles, workplace diversity, leadership, business etiquette, public speaking, stress and conflict, and computer technology. Handy reference for every day use. Toolboxes in each chapter provide self-analysis check list on various business communication topics. I highly recommend it for classroom, business, and for personal use.

I found Business Euphoria to be very refreshing in the ideas and concepts it presents. Every organization can benefit by creating a foundation of trust, tolerance and respect for the individuals involved. This book is about more than what it takes to succeed in business, it's about creating healthy organizational environments that nurture and support growth and change and fun and real life. A must read for leaders everywhere!

Business Euphoria provides a road map for business owners who recognize the value in providing more than lip service to life-balance and community building issues. Robins' real-life experience using Relational Management principles to rebuild Yakima's corporate culture clearly demonstrated the impact Relational Management has on productivity and the overall health of an organization. It is a worthwhile read that provides solutions for any business owner who feels that growth may be eroding the culture and core principals upon which their business and communities were founded.

Mr. Robins has created a very provocative piece that is deceptively ripe with facts, personal accounts and solutions. A quick read that I had to reread several times in order to grasp the breadth and depth of its many concepts.

There are very few that have been bold enough to tackle the task of describing a new organizational model adaptable enough to be applied to any type of organization, corporation, or institution. We are fortunate that Mr. Robins took on this challenge...and with such a conversational approach!

There are far bigger names writing about organizational improvement and far better writers, but few have proposed as simple or as grand a construct. Relational Management, as described by Mr. Robins, is a powerful organizational approach. So obvious and simple, and yet so elusive and powerful. I will never look at an organization the same way again.

As Mr. Robins describes, Western organizations have been constructed to be efficient, but not productive. Product relationships, teams and organizations must be built on trust, respect and tolerance, while being mindful of fundamental principles.

Mr. Robins suggests that we all have a need to belong to something, to have a cause, and to express ourselves. And that these fundamental social needs will playout in every organization, for the better or for worse.

Gangs, Gall and Guts... I couldn't agree more.

This book is lovely. The pictures are gorgeous. The text only compliments the pictures. The text is simple and easy to understand.

I used this book when teaching the gifted students math and science. The book is so lovely that many times my students would just read it because of that, not because they were trying to see a concept.

Now I use it as a goal for my personal photography. (I can only hope to be that good someday!)

This is a gorgeous book and well worth the money.

If I could give 10 stars to this book, I would. As a fellow nature photographer and instructor, we use this book as the text book for our photography programs, especially the ones on composition, patterns, and natural design. William Neill's photography is outstanding, each picture simple and clear to the point being made. The text is a reflection of the outstanding quality and precision of the photographs, making their point clearly and simply, yet capturing the imagination. You will start looking at the world differently after reading this book, having your imagination captured by the shadows and cracks on the sidewalk, the curls in the petal of a flower, the fascination of designs found in food, plants, the clouds, everywhere you look will seem fresh and new, seen through new eyes.

Interested in math and geometry, this book will open a new world to you in understanding the complexities of nature as well as geometry and other sciences to you. Fractals, rectangles, spirals, mathematical computations we all learned in school come alive under the simple and magical words and the gorgeous images by Mr. Neill. I would include this as a text book in any math class, inspiring and opening student's eyes to the possibilities found in nature.

For nature and photo enthusiasts, you will go back to this book time and time again for inspiration and information. It will help you understand why rose petals open as they do, how a drop of water can hold the most volume before it explodes, making yet another geometrical shape. You learn why cactus have spines, how lava cools, cracking in even shapes. A very exciting lesson comes in learning how scientists, after many frustrating centuries, with the help of computers finally came up with a mathematical computation for measuring mountains, coastlines, clouds, fog, the physical and ethereal elements of nature. The chapter on fractals really expands your understanding of the sciences.

Mr. Neill has done a sequel to this book and it is also worth getting, as is anything he touches. He is an inspired and dedicated photographer, who some say is carrying on the work of his mentor, Ansel Adams, but I say he is carving his own unique road, in someways surpassing the master's work.

Each page is worthy of framing itself! You feel as though you are with the photographer as each description of the picture is both clear and inviting the reader to feel what was happening at the time the photo was taken ...All aspects of nature, from flowers to underwater scenes....are creatively captured for the viewer. I loved this book and din't want to finish it...

A charming book. Clear photographs and sensitive analysis of buildings familiar, new, and vanished. Pinnell sets his stories of each structure in its context with due attention to historical development. I would have liked seeing more photos of sets of buildings together. Note how the two large pictures of Harkness Tower are especially engaging for their backgrounds. It would also have been nice to see a drawing of Venturi's famously unbuilt Math building. If you can get to New Haven easily, carry this book around to enrich your visit.

Many authors would wilt under the task of tying together the nearly 300 year historical development of what is widely recognized to be the finest assemblage of buildings to be found on any American college campus. Fortunately, Pinnell, a Yale alumnus and professor of architecture, is up to the challenge. Bringing to his subject matter a depth of feeling and complexity of thought borne of his many years of close interaction with the Yale built environment, Pinnell pulls off the difficult task of creating a guide that will offer fresh insight and intellectual challenge to those who know the campus well while retaining the interest of even first time visitors. As this is an architectural and not a travel guide, the author assumes that the reader's primary interest is in the school's buildings, its public spaces, and its historical and urbanistic relationship to New Haven. As a result, a less architecturally-concerned reader may be better served by another sort of book. However, for those of us who share Pinnell's passion for building generally and the magnificent Yale campus, in particular, this is the book we've been waiting for.

This is a prodigious and learned work. Anyone visiting Yale can learn a lot from it.

One interesting thing about this campus series is that as we continue to turn America into sprawl -- what James Howard Kunstler calls "the National Automobile Slum" -- campuses are the first urban experience for many Americans.

Note to Princeton Architectural Press: you should let the authors talk more about the outdoor public realm and not make them focus so much on individual buildings.

The book should also have many plans (there are none). The best architecture guidebooks have plans for every building.

I've just started praying "Celtic Daily Prayer" this year, several times a week and find this prayer guide a lovely way to deepen my intimacy with God and connect with my Celtic heritage. The book includes daily prayer services, daily readings and prayers for set times of the year, as well as prayers/devotions based in the life of Celtic saints. Even people who hail from a different ethnic heritage will find that Celtic Daily Prayer offers community wisdom and a down to earth guide to daily prayer in the family. The Northumbria Community also offers these daily prayer services and prayers on a CD by the same title, though I found the CD less appealing or helpful than the book. For two other books on Family Prayer, look at THE FAMILY CLOISTER: BENEDICTINE WISDOM FOR THE HOME (Crossroad, 2000), and THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY TOOLBOX: 52 BENEDICTINE ACTIVITIES FOR THE HOME (Crossroad, 2001).

When I first came on this incredible collection, my heart was deeply stirred and thoroughly warmed. My heart and head felt connected in a deep, holistic manner. I want to share these readings with all who would listen to their hearts. To use "focusing" language a la the "focusing method," the connection was made on a deep physical/spiritual/emotional/intellectual level that transcends human verbiage. In the words of some of the ancient Roman writers, "Mirabile dictu!" (A wonder to behold!) Try this one out for your spiritual growth and insights... I don't think you will be disappointed.

For a blending of the ancient and the modern, this book of prayers and daily devotionals fits the bill better than anything else available today. Besides the liturgies of morning, midday, and evening prayer, with accompanying scripture readings, there are prayers for special situations and events, not to mention two entire years of daily devotional readings. The interest in Celtic Christianity that has taken root in recent years may seem almost faddish, yet there is a depth of spirituality here that is refreshing and rewarding. This is one of the best tools available to strengthen one's inner life with God.

This book is essential reading for all those who are or hope to someday be military leaders. It utilizes philosophy, ethics, and morals in its discussion of an ideal leader. it is versatile in that it can be used early in an officer's career to guide him, or later, to refine him. "The Challenge of Command" should be required reading of all officers and officer candidates.

Roger Nye's book comes from real world experiences, his own and others. It reflects a lifetime of study, intellectual thought, and discourse with some of the best leaders and thinkers of our time. The is a guide for mentors because Roger Nye was a beloved mentor to military leaders from cadets to generals. This book has timeless value because it encourages the pursuit of the highest principles and standards. It does this by providing references, resources, and examples that can further expand the reader's understanding and development. Though the content of this book is written for the military leader and commander, it clearly has application and value to the non-military leader and chief executive officer. Having had the opportunity and blessing to be mentored by Roger Nye before, during, and after the writing of this book, I can say that my bias for Roger's work has been validated by my life's experiences.

This book should be on the desk of every officer in the U.S. military. The book is insightful by itself, but the bibliography is priceless. New officer's are often told by their mentors to "read biographies of great men". Of course, their first question (often to themselves) is "Where do I find that kinda stuff???" This is the book for them. I ordering a copy for my new officers (and myself) right now.

No one in the world (and I state that with full confidence) knows more about Chartres Cathedral than Malcolm Miller. What more needs to be said?

No visit to Chartres is complete without taking the tour of the Cathedral's walking encyclopedia Malcolm Miller. Miller's books are fantastic and give a tremendous insight into the history of Chartres and its Cathedral.

Malcolm Miller is the foremost English authority on the cathedral of Chartres. He divides his time between the town of Chartres, where he personally conducts tours, and the rest of the world where he lectures and makes films and videos of the subject. He opens his tours and lectures by commenting that the cathedral is like a library--and we don't just say, "We're going to go to the library today and read all the books". Each tour or lecture consists of a general introduction and focuses on a small part of the stained glass and statuary. The core of the book is a review of the iconography of a selection of the windows and sculpture. In this manner, you learn how to "read the books" in the cathedral, and gain an understanding of the world that produced them. Once you have toured Chartres, either in person or through that other medieval miracle, printing, you will want to return again and again.

What a wonderful collection of services and suggestions for services. By far this is the best minister's manual that I have found. Beautifuly bound, and gold edged pages. I never go anywhere without it in the event that I need it quick.

The Christian Minister's Manual is loaded with helpful and useful information for all pastors. For personal helps there are sections on First Days in the Field, Working with People, Staff Relationships, Preaching & Public Worship, The Minister's Time, the Minister and His Family.

To aid in ministering to others, there are 25 pages on comforting people including those who are sick, grieving, troubled, shut-ins and so on. Suggestions for the minister, prayers and scripture are included.

Finally, there are practical suggestions as well as guidelines for performing the services of weddings, funerals, baptisms, dedications and ordinations.

One of the nicest things about this book is its compact size. It also has a bonded leather cover and gold gilded pages. Very nice indeed! I recommend it highly for any minister.

this is handy resource for the busy minister regardless of denomination the scripture selection for the various services, dedications, funerals, weddings,hospital visitation, and any of the other services we perform no minister's library should be withoutit.

I read this book along with Frank Viola's book "Rethinking The Wineskins" and I found this book to be a bit more easier to follow and more practical. While Viola's book seem to have an heir about it that said "I'm ticked off at the established church and here is why" this book simply offers the reader a candid look at the New Testament model of house churches and how the Bank's are seeking to follow the NT pattern. Bank's is a scholar. You will find in this book a man who loves God, loves people, and teaches the truth of Scripture clearly. If you have read books on house churches and have walked away with a bit of skepticism (as I have at times) than buy this book and you will find that Bank's is truly a brother in Christ who only desires to be like Jesus.

A practical survey of the house church movement. Without bitterness toward traditional models of church, Banks introduces a refreshing model for the household of faith which has its roots in the first century. It is a radical concept for many American Christians because it stands in such stark contrast with the more individualistic, consumer driven model for church which has taken center stage in Western Culture.

Robert and Julia shared from experience when they wrote this book. It is so refreshing to read a book that is about real life, rather than just the theory and doctrine of how house church ought to be. The various testimonies are really insightful.

If you are contemplating leaving the institutionalized church, this book would be a good place to start your journey toward relational fellowship in the home setting.