family-economics

The chapter on honesty at work is particularly convicting. He writes that most people define honesty as what we can get away with, but the Bible always defines it as absolute faithfulness to the unvarnished truth. I really enjoyed the part of the book about work and becoming focused on a calling from God.

Dayton studied for two years the 2300+ verses in the Bible on money. He writes with candor and humility. I like that he challenges Christians to look at their lifestyle based on being faithful to God, and not automatically raise it with their income. Greed the silent sin is one of the most pervasive sins in our culture, he says.

For anyone that is interested in becoming more faithful to God with their money, and would like to experience the peace and joy that comes from learning contentment, I would highly recommend this book.

Ashley Hodge, CFP
Southlake, TX

At any rate, that's the well-demonstrated thesis of James Thornton's "Chore Wars," one of the most truly *useful* books I've come across in a long time. It's thoroughly researched and very entertainingly written (sample question from a self-assessment quiz: "Would you rather have okay sex in a clean house, or great sex in a messy house?"). However, what sets it apart from other books in its genre is a quality that might best be called "confessional." Mr. Thornton clearly has been through the chore wars. We gather that he is a former stereotypical male: a sock dropper, a beer-can strewer, a bathtub-scum ignorer, a veritable rancher of dust bunnies. Circumstances (his wife's problem pregnancy) forced him to change his Cro-Magnon ways, and he not only lived to tell about it, he found that he was much, much happier as a full participant in the running of his household. It's positively inspirational.

"Chore Wars" urges couples to focus not on blame, but on practical, one-step-at-a-time solutions. It also contains revealing profiles of real-life couples discussing their personal attitudes toward and experiences with chore wars -- including one glimpse of a "garbage house" that is absolutely chilling.

As someone who almost never reads books in the so-called Self Help category, I was doubly impressed with "Chore Wars." It's a bona fide page-turner with therapeutic value -- a very rare feat indeed.

I noted this book was flawed, and there are two primary reasons. While any classic "liberal" may rejoice at many of Kelly's thoughts, those who may be open minded conservatives, or on the fence, may be turned off by several tactics he uses. One is that he continually hammers home article after article, note after note, on why his point is right. But after a while it becomes a bit numbing, like you are being faced with a one-man counter-propaganda machine. While this may not be true, because he is so incessant it comes off that way. Second, the current major politician whose ideas are closest to Kelly's is John McCain, a moderately conservative Republican (I do not consider Ralph Nader a politician, and Bill Bradley is retired). Supporters of McCain's philosophy (whether they use him as their icon or not), who are looking for enlightenment may find that this book pushes so hard, it pushes them away.

Again, those flaws are not going to keep me from telling you to not read the book. If you think, even wonder, that Kelly may be right in that the Enron's and WorldCom's of the world are colluding with many politicians to stick it to the working man, Kelly will show you just how right you are. And his argument is quite compelling.

If the book fails anywhere, it is in providing direct examples of the transfer of wealth that takes place -- from the taxpayers to campaign contributors -- as a result of our public electoral system being financed by private money.

As I completed the book, I sensed a need to distinguish between the two kinds of conflict and thus devise targeted steps for individual conflict of a short-term nature.

That aside, this book is not pop-whiz-bang fluff. It is hardy stuff from an academician with bountiful real-world experience in the subject.

Dudley was a professor of mine in undergraduate. He's a great man, and this is a *great* book.

He does cover a lot of ground, including immigrant businesses, a good section on succession of the business, and touches on both small and large family businesses.

I found quite a bit of it to also be his sales pitch, implying that every family business should hire, in the foreground or background, a consultant, a lawyer, an accountant, and possibly a therapist =D

Overall, it's an okay book covering topics which hopefully most people are aware of and warning you about things you may not be. If you are facing problems, this book may help you either diagnose it yourself or he suggests things to look for in an outsider to help you diagnose it.

Good luck!

Pachter has a specific objective in mind: To enable those to read the book to master the skills needed to resolve confrontation is positive, constructive, and beneficial ways. As indicated in the Preface, she wants each reader to be able to say "I don't feel frustrated any more..." or "In the past I would have sulked or complained until the person got the hint, now I can just say something..." or "Annoying things don't bother me as much because I know I can say something now."

The book consists of 16 chapters, ranging from "Positive Confrontation -- What It Is and How It Can Make Your Life Better" to "International Etiquette", with Chapter 16 followed by a "Final 12-Step Pep Talk." Over the course of the book, Pachter covers just about every conceivable situation in which conflict can occur at work, home, and in life. I think this book will be invaluable to individual readers as well as to senior-level executives who can use much of the material to help those whom they supervise to master the same skills.

Why do we think we have to have two incomes to survive? It's because our existing lifestyle choices necessitate the additional income. Bigger house? Two brand new cars? Designer clothes? Stereos, appliances, toys, etc. If you think you need a big, brand new house and fill it with a lot of things, you will need two incomes and then some.

The main lesson I learned from this book is the high cost of an additional income, especially after having kids and incorporating daycare expenses.

Read this book with an open, objective state of mind and it can work for you, too.

Clearly the "reader" did not read Mr. Hanson's book carefully enough. As a nearby resident of his town of Selma, I can attest to Mr. Hanson's personal and family legacy of professional farming. He is by no means "an amateur farmer." Instead, he has worked on his family farm more than full time since his pre-teens, and supported his family doing so.

The difficulties Hanson encountered as a farmer were common to the ventures of his particular crops. In addition, his acceptance of a university position at Cal. State Fresno was mainly a way to keep food on the table after the raisin crash. I wish this reviewer had read the book more carefully before tossing out major criticisms.

As an outsider to farming, although my uncle is a cattle farmer in Wisconsin, I developed a passionate respect for farming after reading Fields Without Dreams. Hanson's overriding point, I think, is to emphasize the character and toughness required of farmers in any age. His book is particularly timely because, as he notes, "Family farmers are noble, but vanishing stewards of ancient ground."

Hanson also makes an important statement about farming--that its myth of simplicity and quaintness is unfounded. While capitalism overtakes the family farm in favor of agribusiness, just like it has many other American businesses, what is disappearing along with the family farm is an honorable society we'll never see again. I am glad Hanson is around to capture this moment for us.