family-economics

Before you settle down to read, get out a pen and determine if you're predominantly a Visionary, an Artisan, an Idealist, or an Adventurer--the four archetypal personalities that Judy George and Todd Lyon describe, illustrate, and comment upon in this upbeat, informative book. The archetype quiz they provide is short, easy, and contemporary, and above all, more fun than the role-defining career tests we all took in high school. Don't expect to be neatly defined by one grouping; the authors don't expect you to be such an uncomplicated being, either. What they do suggest, however, is that in discovering the characteristics of a typical Visionary, for instance, and reading the stories of other Visionaries, both famous (like Elizabeth Arden) and not-so-famous (such as a literary agent who loves her job because of the "thrill of the hunt"), you'll soon be able to identify your truest type. This will then enable you to cherry pick from the advice the authors provide on matters such as managing your finances and your approach to money, interrelating with others at work, changing jobs or careers, starting a business of your own, and volunteering your time and money. Loaded with juicy informational sidebars and quirky quotes from all over the place, this book is not only a productive tool but a fun read. --S. Ketchum

"We live in angry times," says Hot Buttons author Sybil Evans, and she should know. As one of America's leading experts on conflict resolution, Evans has worked with everyone from corporations the size of AT&T to the United States Tennis Association to couples on the brink of divorce. So what's the source of our growing hostility? Hot buttons.

"A hot button," Evans writes, "is an emotional trigger." Your hot buttons get pushed when people call you names, don't respond to you, take what belongs to you, challenge your competence, don't respect you, give you unsolicited advice, don't appreciate you, are condescending... and the list goes on. In Hot Buttons: How to Resolve Conflict and Cool Everyone Down, Evans and coauthor Sherry Suib Cohen claim that by recognizing what pushes your hot buttons--and by learning how not to push the hot buttons of others--conflicts can be avoided. Even more important is the ability to turn them off once they have been pushed. The book begins with a five-step formula for doing this: "watch the play," "confirm," "get more information," "assert your own interests and needs," and "find common ground for a solution." Once the authors have explained how to achieve each step, they cover just about every conceivable conflict under the sun and how to employ the five steps in each case. Added to the mix are a number of self-quizzes for identifying what sets you off and dozens of catchy quotes, termed "Hot-Button Hints," such as "When anger rises, think of the consequences" (Confucius).

One of the book's more interesting chapters deals with how hot buttons can be hazardous to your health. Other chapters include discussions of hot buttons and intimacy, the family, children, friendship, and the workplace. Evans's expertise is apparent throughout, though she does get repetitive, particularly when driving home her points with what seems like an endless supply of personal anecdotes from those she's worked with over the years. Still, among all the examples, readers will find fresh, creative ideas for quelling rages large and small. --Patrick Jennings

Ferguson's sprawling history covers much ground and involves a cast of hundreds of players. At the outset he notes that his book was commissioned by the modern descendants of the House of Rothschild; even so, he approaches his task with careful balance and a critical eye, pointing out the Rothschilds' failings as well as successes. The result is a fine, solid contribution to economic history, one that, unlike so many books in the field, is eminently readable. --Gregory McNamee