Book Description

New York Times bestselling author and expert on leadership John C. Maxwell explores the concept that success is really just a frame of mind. Good thinking. It's the one thing all successful people have in common. People who achieve their dreams understand the critical relationship between their level of thinking and their level of progress--and they know that when thinking is limited, so is potential. Now, John C. Maxwell explores this idea and identifies the specific skills people need to make their potential for success explode into results. From focused and creative thinking to thinking of the big picture or the bottom line, he provides examples of effective thinking for every situation. This book doesn't tell readers what to think, it teaches them how to think. After all, success is as simple as changing your mind. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Think! Think! Exclaims Maxwell
Maxwell uses extensive quotes, examples, and lessons from great thinkers and leaders throughout history to prove his point that critical thinking is essential for any person aspiring to assume leadership within an organization, or to gain control of one's personal life. Critical thinking is absent in corporate America today, and Maxwell strives to teach the reader to adopt new mental habits to analyze and resolve situations both within and without the boardroom.

Maxwells' book presents a rationale for focused, creative, shared, realistic, strategic, possibility, reflective, popular, and bottom-line thinking. Maxwell devotes a chapter to each of these areas in his highly readable writing style.

I would recommend this book to everyone
John C. Maxwell's "Thinking For A Change" was very helpful in teaching me a few of the basics about leadership. He gives eleven main strategies for success in work and life. I think the book can be useful to everyone. You don't necessarily have to be a corporate leader to find it useful. I think it's one of those books you can read ten times, and always find something useful inside. I'm sure I will re-read it when I am further along in my career. I have not graduated from college yet, but it has already started me on a good thinking path. It is useful for business, but it is also useful in everyday life. Since I am not a "business person" yet, I can apply the theories to my life right now, and try to use and perfect them, so when I do enter the business world, I will hopefully have a good grasp on what it is to be a leader. Maxwell talks about big-picture thinking. Big-picture thinkers are never satisfied with their current knowledge, and they always want to learn more. Focused thinking develops and discovers new ideas. Creative thinking celebrate the off-beat and explore options. Realistic thinking is the difference between what is real in life and what we wish to be real. Strategic thinking is planning to make difficult things more simple. Possibility thinking is believing in all possiblities. Reflective thinking is looking back to analyze and learn from what has already happened. Popular thinking, in a way, is not thinking at all. Shared thinking is receiving feedback from others' thoughts as well as your own. Unselfish thinking is getting outside yourself and contributing to others. Bottom-line thinking is measuring the outcomes. These are all very basic explanations of each kind of thinking, but Maxwell goes into a lot of detail. He describes what each kind of thinking is, why it is helpful, and how to go about doing it. Then at the end of each chapter, he has a workbook section that you fill out. These questions and scenarios help you start thinking like the "thinker" described in that chapter. Maxwell uses these eleven strategies to help us understand how to be a good leader, and the workbook parts help us figure out how to put these types of thinking into action. Overall, I thought this book was very affective in teaching some basics about leadership, and I know it is one that i will be pulling off the shelf in the future time and time again.

gets you thinking
Look around, and you will see that a lot of people in our society don't think. Our television shows have laugh tracks to tell us when something is supposed to be funny. Our coffee cups now warn us that the contents may be hot. Labels on our hair dryers remind us not to use them underwater. We are so used to having someone else do our thinking. What would happen if we woke up and started...thinking for a change?

Right away Maxwell establishes that successful people think differently than unsuccessful people. In Part I, he develops a foundation by explaining the merits of good, changed and intentional thinking. Part II reveals the 11 ways that successful people think -- big-picture instead of small, focused instead of scattered, creative instead of restrictive, realistic instead of fantasy, strategic instead of random, possibility instead of limited, reflective instead of impulsive, innovative instead of popular, shared instead of solo, unselfish instead of selfish, and bottom-line instead of wishful.

Each chapter explains one of these facets of thinking and allows you to evaluate yourself in each area. Maxwell then gives you action steps to develop that type of thinking in your life. This is an excellent resource to help you jump-start and expand your thinking beyond where it is today. If you are ready for a change, this book will get you thinking...for a change.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

We Already Have All That We Need to Think More Effectively
By now Maxwell has earned and thus deserves a reputation for some excellent thinking about leadership. In this volume, somewhat of a departure from his usual concerns, he shares some excellent ideas about the thinking process itself. He asserts (and I wholly agree) that successful people think differently than do unsuccessful people. Specifically, he identifies and then carefully examines eleven different types of thinking. "Those who embrace good thinking as a lifestyle," he suggests, "understand the relationship between their level [and quality] of thinking and their level [and degree] of progress. They also realize that to change their lives, they must change their thinking." Agreeing with Abraham Maslow, Maxwell suggests that unsuccessful people focus their thinking almost entirely on survival, average people focus their thinking almost entirely on "maintenance' (i.e. keeping whatever they now have), and successful people focus their thinking entirely on progress.

Maxwell devotes a separate chapter to each of the eleven types of thinking: Big Picture, Focussed, Creative, realistic, Strategic, Possibility/Potentiality, Reflective, Popular (thinking which creates agreement, consensus, teamwork, etc.), Shared/Collaborative, Unselfish, and Bottom-line. According to Maxwell, his book "does not try to tell you what to think; it attempts to teach you [in italics] how to think." At the conclusion of each chapter, he thoughtfully includes a brief exercise which requires the reader to apply the key points in the chapter to her or his own circumstances. I have no problem with the fact that there is some redundancy in Maxwell's presentation of material. First of all, the eleven types of thinking are interrelated, interdependent. Strengthening one inevitably helps to strengthen the others. Also, certain key points need to be reiterated for purposes of both review and emphasis. Presumably Maxwell agrees with me that there is a compelling need for new thinking about how to change one's way of thinking. Metaphorically, we need both new wine AND new bottles but also new, better ideas about the process of producing wine.

Paradoxically, as the prophet Eccelesiastes asserts, "there is nothing new under the sun." I am not damning with faint praise when suggesting that there is (essentially) nothing new in Maxwell's book. Almost all of the key concepts in this book can be found in the works of Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, Immanuel Kant, William James, and others. (Maxwell duly acknowledges a wealth of resources.) For me, the great value of this book is not derived from any original insights offered by Maxwell; rather, from his brilliant organization and presentation of essentially fundamental ideas about the process of thinking clearly on so many different levels, from so many different points of view. This may well prove to be his most important contribution to our understanding of what can and should be accomplished by more effective use of the abundant resources which are already available...between our two ears.

think right = read Thinking Strategically
subtitled: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life.

The moral of this tale is: read specific works that are written by those who are experts in one of these 11 dimensions. Maxwell is superficial. He kinda has to be, as he is in the business of writing many books in the knowledge lite category. He may point out useful directions to follow up on. It's up to YOU to get the hint and follow the trail. Also suggest that you read Don't Jump To Solutions (cognitive psychologists call this problem "rush to structure"), by William B. Rouse, or Games, Strategies & Managers by John Mc Millan and of course, The Logic Of Failure by Dietrich Doerner.... soon enough you get the idea that strategic thinking is A. both a science and an art, and B. one heck of a lot of hard work to do well, and C. inspiration doesn't hurt, but perspiration wins the day..

Still hot to trot ? Bramson and Harrison's work on the dominant thinking styles in western cultures, Analytic, Idealistic, Pragmatic, Synthetic, and Realistic remains better than almost any other typology, perhaps more significant and elegantly simple than the Briggs-Myers system...

You've been warned, fellow students. Maxwell is the threshold, not the full structure. Don't make the mistake of thinking that Thinking For A Change is enough. You need more, a lot more. ... Read more

Book Description

We found the truly gifted law professors most law students can only dream about – the professors who draw rave reviews, not only for their scholarship, but for their ability to make the law easy to understand.We asked these select few professors to condense their courses into a single lecture.And it’s these lectures you’ll find in the Law School Legends Series.With Law School Legends, you’ll get a brilliant law professor explaining an entire subject to you in one simple, dynamic lecture.The Law School Legends make even the most difficult concepts crystal clear.You’ll understand the big picture, and how all the concepts fit together.You’ll get hundred of examples and exam tips, honed over decades in the classroom.But best of all, you’ll get insights you can only get from America’s greatest law professors! ... Read more

Book Description

As the Foreign Affairs columnist for The New York Times, Thomas L. Friedman has traveled to the four corners of the globe, interviewing people from all walks of contemporary life -- peasants in the Amazon rain forest, new entrepreneurs in Indonesia, Islamic students in Teheran, and the financial wizards on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley.

Now Friedman has drawn on his years on the road to produce an engrossing and original look at the new international system that, more than anything else, is shaping world affairs today: globalization.

His argument can be summarized quite simply. Globalization is not just a phenomenon and not just a passing trend. It is the international system that replaced the Cold War system. Globalization is the integration of capital, technology and information across national borders, in a way that is creating a single global market and to some degree, a global village. You cannot understand the morning news or know where to invest you money or think about where the world is going unless you understand this new system, which is influencing the domestic policies and international relations of virtually every country in the world today. And once you do understand the world as Friedman explains it, you'll never look at it quite the same way again.

Using original terms and concepts -- from "The Electronic Herd" to "DOScapital 6.0" -- Friedman shows us how to see this new system. With vivid stories, he dramatizes the conflict of "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" -- the tension between the globalization system and ancient forms of culture, geography, tradition and community -- and spells out what we all need to do to keep this system in balance.

Finding the proper balance between the Lexus and the olive tree is the great drama of the globilization era, and the ultimate theme of Friedman's challenging, provocative book -- essential listening for all who care about how the world really works. ... Read more

Reviews (321)

McDonald's Theory of Conflict Avoidance and More
I've been a fan of Thomas Friedman's New York Times foreign affairs column since September 11, when I found his voice about the Arab world and how it relates to this tragedy and our daily lives here in the United States. This book created a helpful foundation for understanding our changing planet.

The premise on which he bases the book is that there is a conflict in our world between olive trees, which represent our cultural heritage and identity, our spirituality and our rituals, and the Lexus, which is manufactured in technologically advanced factories for people who have cashed in on the globalized American capitalist system and can afford the amenities, and can buy them in increasing outlets worldwide.

Friedman makes a convincing case that this current era of Globalization (he suggests that an earlier era in the late 19th and ealier 20th centuries incited the backlashes that we call today Communism, Socialism and Facism) has replaced the former world order created by the Cold War. Then, everything was bipolar, and nations aligned themselves and propped themselves up
politically and financially with their alliances to either the Soviet Union or the United States. Now, Friedman states, there is only globalization, or global capitalism, and if your nation isn't plugged into it, your people will suffer.

Sometimes the full-bore theme of this book feels heavy, that there is no alternative to market capitalism worldwide seems a little biased, to me. But, Friedman, thankfully, doesn't only concentrate on this, but gives thought, particularly at the end of the book, to the public policies that nations can initiate to protect their olive trees, while not turning their backs on the Lexus.

He has some interesting theories, too, that I enjoyed reading about, particularly the idea that no country with a McDonald's franchise has ever attacked another country with a McDonald's franchise. (His first edition came out before NATO v Yugoslavia, but he still stands by it, as NATO isn't a nation...) His
idea here is that market capitalism can be a stabilizing force in the world because once people have a big enough middle class to support franchises like McDonald's they are hard pressed to risk their lifestyles for war.

I found this edition, which came out in 2000 to be somewhat painful, as his passages about what he calls "super-empowered individuals," who don't need to be in control of a country or its military to attack other nations or groups, somewhat vaguely but eerily predicted the September 11 plot. His position that the
increasing democratization of finance/capital, information and technology can improve life and destabilize it too are convincing, especially in what we've seen happen since the book was published.

The book, written in a pleasant, colloquial style with a lot of well-known examples is engaging and easy to read. I strongly recommend it.

An overview, but not enough for "understanding"
Over the years, New York Times reporter Tom Friedman has earned a reputation for his crisp and engaging writing and his ability to present the complex world events in ways that are easy to understand. If you're looking for an introduction to issues involved in the globalization of commerce, this is one of the best books on the market for it. Friendman's descriptions of things like the "electronic herd" of global capital investment and his McDonald's theory of international conflict bring a lot of sense to an otherwise confusing landscape of issues.

This strength of the book is also its limitation. Friedman is a clear writer because he paints with a broad brush. There is a strong bias at work here, but Friedman tends to try to keep hidden both his bias and points of debate that would contradict his theses. For example, he argues that market capitalism is now the one and only way to participate in the global economy, ignoring that there are several distinct flavors of "market capitalism" (US, Japanese, and European, for example) with very different rules and very different outcomes. Reading Friedman, one might assume that the Asian tigers had achieved their success by following the US model (which is the laissez-faire approach also advocated by the World Bank), while in fact they achieved robust growth through an approach more or less like that followed by the Japanese, which involved a combination of protectionism, currency management, and mandated savings. Friedman uses the 1997 Asian economic meltdown to argue that this Japanese-style approach is no longer valid and that global capital investment will not return until they better conform to the financial market transparency typical of the US. During the current slump, however, capital has fled from the US back to many of these economies because of their performance and not because of their transparency.

The question with globalization isnt whether it's "good" or "bad," but whether and how it should be managed. If you're looking for a more in-depth discussion of these issues and a more honest revelation of the author's biases, there are better books available, such as William Greider's "One World, Ready or Not." But this book isn't a bad place to get your feet wet.

Sort of rambles, has some great anecdotes and analogies.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree is an important book, but in many ways Thomas Friedman renders his own creation irrelevant. He is almost schizophrenic in his writing style, arguing with himself as if he has yet to make up his mind about the things he is writing. In some ways, it seems like he just prefers to share anecdotes (which are vivid and usually humorous) from his travels around the world, rather than the typical kinds of fact-based research one finds in these sort of books. The result is that the reader can understand some of the concepts, but they can also get a little tedious, and it is hard to translate the anecdotes into something that I assimilate into my worldview.

Furthermore, Friedman seems to love to quote people at length, but one wonders if indeed he is quoting word-for-word, or if he is just sort of crafting something to fit his book out of a vaguely similar comment the person may have made. But, then one thinks again, because the book is almost a little choppy in places because Friedman quotes random characters from all around the world for pages upon pages. One would prefer that he just paraphrase or use shorter quotes.

Because it was written 5 years ago, some of the reading is tedious (he explains what a DVD player is, for example), and in some areas he seems to be caught up in the "irrational" dot-com whirlwind. In his revised version of the book, it sort of just drones on, pontificating for about 20-30 pages too much. Thomas Friedman is a very personable guy, and he has a lot of interesting things to say about the world, but honestly, one doesn't care for his own political/religious philosophy being injected, mostly toward the end of the book. It was just awkward to read through the final chapter or two; the book has multiple personality disorder in some regards.

One almost feel like the book is written for an audience of Dick Gephardts. He wants to win the protectionist wing of the Democratic Party over with the book. He seems to be speaking to them. Maybe he is speaking to Republicans as well, but if so, he lectures a little too sanctimoniously on the environment and the notion of a social safety net (he calls Republicans "mean-spirited voices... uninterested in any compromise" and tries to argue that Africa, with its near-anarchy in places, would be a Republican's dream) to win conservatives over entirely. He sort of just randomly breaks into prostheletyzing, arguing, for example, "That the NRA should feel guilty about the Colombine massacres went without saying." Why even go into that? That's just tacky.

Finally, a reader gets sort of annoyed reading his own made-up terms (Golden Straightjacket, Electronic Herd, etc.), over and over, particularly since none of them caught on whatsoever in the past half-decade since the book came out.

Some of it is dead on, though, particularly when he writes as an observer of the world rather than an activist, and this book is a good way to conceptualize globalization for those who are having a hard time adapting their political ideology in the post-Cold War era. In general, I'd say The Lexus and the Olive Tree starts off strong, ends weak, and that's a shame. It was on track to get 5 stars from me, even with the early tributes to Al Gore and other political cheap shots, but the final part of the book was just THAT lacking, that it falls to 3 stars.

Basic, almost insulting.
In the book friedman describes several interesting points ranging from the trade offs of culture and capitalism, to the basic efficiencies of different economies, though the way he describes things is almost insulting. The metaphors and anologies used seem to indicate a journalist writing for the elderly or those who have no idea what a digital medium is. Being a young student this quickly wore on my attention span.

I tried to read the book twice and failed becuase I get so fed up with his style. For example, he has a tendency to end paragraphs with exclamations that are as corny as the saying "click on that!" This drove me to the point where I would read the entire paragraph except the last sentence, obviously not the best way to read a book.

The good news is that the liberal bias seen in From Beirut to Jeuraslim(sp) is nowhere to be seen, replaced by ideas that only the free-est of the free markets would survive, a complete contradiction to his pro-arab Beruit book.

I would recommend milton friedman over thomas friedman, anyday, if you want an accurate portrayal of the power of the free market.

Excellent primer for the novice and interested alike
Friedman's book "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" is an excellent illustration of basic globalization principles and strategies, told in simple and easy language for the layman's point of view. The heavy use of anecdotal evidence also lends a comfortable "storytelling" perspective that generally keeps the reader's attention focused.

One of the things that interested me about this book was Friedman's attempted placement of his work alongside other authors on similar subjects. In the introduction, he plainly states that his purpose in writing this book is not only to fully explain the concept, analysis, and anecdotal evidence of globalization, but also to add to the body of knowledge that is shaping and defining the post-Cold War era in history. Citing other seminal works that have been described as groundbreaking descriptions of this time in history, he lists 3 other books that he hopes to complement on that very subject: "The End of History and the Last Man" by Francis Fukuyama, "The Clash of Civilizations" by Samuel Huntington, and the collected works (books and articles) of Robert Kaplan. In truth, I have recently read all 3 of these selections and can honestly agree that Friedman has successfully accomplished his goal.

For the most part, I already understood globalization (and how it ties in with the greater subject of economics and capitalism) so I thought I might get bored with his tedious simplification and excessive detail... but surprisingly, I found this not to be the case. Overall, I found Friedman to definitely be an expert on the subject, which is often rare for newspaper journalists - and especially the NY Times foreign affairs correspondent who covers the entire planet. This subject is less about "foreign affairs" than economics... but then again, Friedman was the Wall Street correspondent at the Times before he took the foreign affairs desk.

One caveat, though.... this book was published before 9/11 - the first edition was 1999 and the 2nd was in early 2001. So one or two of his predictions didn't pan out, but as to globalization I don't think he'd change much in a 3rd edition. I can only think of one subject in the book where Friedman was dead wrong - his idea that stronger US relations with eastern Europe (specifically the Baltic states) was a bad idea because it might antagonize Russia. Turns out NATO expansion into Europe has gone relatively well... and Russia has practically eliminated their early protestations since 9/11, and in fact are already looking to stronger ties directly with NATO.

Having read those other 3 works, I can honestly say that Friedman has penned a true masterpiece on the post-Cold War body of knowledge. And Friedman is mostly pro-globalization too (unlike the anarchist WTO and G-8 protestors that get all the press), even when he objectively presents both sides of the argument. His overall thesis is basically this: globalization is here to stay, there really isn't anything people can do to stop it (much like the sunrise), so it's best to get used to it, understand it, and realize how you can find yourself moving with it instead of against it. In the end, Friedman uses his considerable journalistic (if not storytelling) talents to offer a subject where readers at all levels of economic expertise can find something to enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

The world's foremost producer of personal development and motivational audio programs offers an inside look at the thinking that leads to great achievement. Drawing on the work of leading psychologists and behavioral researchers, Brian Tracy -- America's "success mentor" -- demonstrates the attitude, deep self-knowledge and pin-pointed goals that are important factors in achieving great success. He'll help you identify your own "area of excellence" and master the tools that make each achiever tick, including:

• How to sharpen your natural intuition
• How to increase your brain power
• How to change thoughts from negative to positive
• How to break bad habits quickly and painlessly

Reviews (12)

Words to live by!
This is an exceptional Self Growth tool. Mr Tracy approaches achievement in concise, clear steps. I listen to the tapes every chance I get. I have heard this tape no less than 8 times and each time I find another application to my life. I strongly recommend this eye opening material for anyone who wants to better his or her life !

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN BRIAN TRACY
Brian Tracy is a master motivator & sales and persoal development trainer. I repeat the top line, NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN BRIAN TRACY. This program and "Pyschology of Selling" were my first Brian Tracy programs. My confidence soared and my sales flew. This program will help you in every area of your life. You'll make lasting changes.

The most complete personal develpment program
This abridged tape set is good enough to give you powerful information. You will learn many of Brian Tracy's powerful strategies for success. Play it in your car. I recommend the book Maximum Achievement on which this tape program is based and the unabridged 6 audio tape set by Nightingale-Conant which is more complete.

Nice... just nice
Well, I like to listen to educational and motivational audio tapes while I'm driving. Keep that in mind when you hear me say that this tape is a nice one. I think it's nice because it educated me about psychology, however my life didn't change and I still make my lousy monthly salary as I did before I bought this tape! LOL The worst part about it (I guess) is that the speaker (also the author) sounded at some points like a salesman... or in other words, insincere... but that's just my opinion. Anyway, it's not a waste of time, and considering the price I think that it's not a bad decision to get it :)

May be the best ($) you can spend on yourself
I came upon hard times and was looking for a way to improve my mindset. Didn't have the energy to read, so found this Title used through Amazon and thought while I drive it would be better to listen to this than mindless music.

It has been a transforming experience. As I listened, I realized how I was self-defeating myself and how badly I needed to change my attitude. The tape goes into detail with examples and the narrator's voice comes across with knowledge and a real feeling of wanting to share his insights from a great deal of research.

I have since made some amazing changes to my life such as lose 52 pounds and run in the NY City Marathon, and I never, ever dreamed I could.

This tape has lead to me to purchase many other tapes to listen to as I drive. It's great, it an education while sitting in traffic and you don't mind the traffic nearly as much. I will say that I have listened to many tapes now, but this one really has been the most valuable. It is ashame it may get lost among the thousands of tapes and books out there on Self-Improvement. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by an expert in the field, this book has the tools you need to become a relaxed, effective, and commanding public speaker. A clear, concise, step-by-step approach with dozens of inside tips, 10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking will help you:

* Overcome nervousness and discover your own natural style
* Establish an immediate rapport with your audience
* Practice your new techniques daily in conversations with friends
* Write a speech that builds to an unforgettable conclusion
* Expertly blend humor and anecdotes into your talks
* Use special techniques to memorize your speech ... Read more

Reviews (9)

My speech was a hit!
I just wanted to let you know that the book and information of yours that I used for writing one of my speeches was a hit. I've never felt so confident and never had so many compliments. Thank you very much!

The Best Book On Public Speaking I have ever read!
Lenny's book is probably one of the bext books written on this topic. Lenny's clear writing style is like being in one of Lenny's seminars. When you read this book, it is like Lenny is speaking to you during one of his seminars. He makes it very easy to understand. What a wonderful book.

I can only imagine what Lenny's seminars and workshops are like. They must be outstanding!

This book is a MUST for everyone's library!

Practical advice you can use immediately!
After devouring this book, I immediately passed it to a client who is developing a speaking business. Lenny's book is full of real-life examples and practical tips for communicating clearly and powerfully. Whether you want to speak professionally or just communicate better in your day-to-day life, this is the book for you!

Valuable Practical Tips and Information
This book is a gold mine! It provides a ton of practice, easy to understand and easy to implement ideas. Lenny's style of writing is so conversation. Reading the book is like having Lenny speak to you one-on-one. The information is easy to understand and simple to use and the entire book is an easy read.

Great job!

AN EASY WAY TO ELOQUENCE
Throat dry and raspy? Hands damp and clammy, perhaps even a little shaky? Don't worry, chances are you're not coming down with the flu but simply about to speak in public. Why the majority of us are rendered incapable when standing before a group of faces, even loving ones, is a mystery.

However, there is no mystery about the help for our podium petrification found in "10 Days To More Confident Public Speaking" by The Princeton Language Institute. After listening and practicing the useful tips found in this audio many will be almost as eloquent as reader Peter McHugh!

Listeners are shown how to be laid back, be comfortable with their own unique selves, and, of great importance, given insider tips on establishing an instant rapport with an audience. Suggestions as to how to integrate humor abound, as well as memorization techniques. Once a speaker knows the words he or she wants are firmly in mind, there is an added comfort and confidence.

Whether you going to be up before a local historical society or a judge, 10 DAYS TO MORE CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKING is an invaluable aid.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description

Today's corporate world is much like the world of professional sports -- fiercely competitive, mentally and physically demanding, and requiring constant, vigilant, training. More than ever, to maintain health, happiness, and career success, executives and employees must become Corporate Athletes.

Based on the latest scientific and medical studies, The Corporate Athlete tells corporate competitors how to achieve maximum performance levels. Drawing on the parallels between sports and business, Jack Groppel reveals the integral roles that nutrition, fitness, and self-improvement -- mental, physical and emotional-play in giving corporate athletes their winning edge. Learn to:

* Have as much energy for your family at 8 p.m. as you have at the office at 8 a.m.
* Respond to change, adversity and crisis more constructively
* Slow down the aging process

Whether or not you can hit a home run or run a marathon, this program will train you to perform at the highest possible levels in both your professional and family life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

OUTSTANDING!
This great book should be on the desk of every stressed out business executive.It brilliantly describes what it takes to be in a peak state of mind when you need to be.There is no question that business people as well as everyone should train their bodies to get their minds in top shape.This book illustrates that with great information about diet,exercise,and proper attitude.A wise investment.

Lacking new Insight to an age-old problem
I waited in anticipation for this book to arrive. Much hype had been made about this new research and the 21 day plan. Business men and women stuggle to balance work and home-life, and the foundation of this book is right on. If we loose weight, drink more water and exercise we will have more energy for both. The problem with this book is that it says very little more. I found myself brousing through the book looking for new ideas to give me some boost. The book does have some excellent chapters on how to deal with stress in the work place. In fact, this book is worth buying just for these two chapters. However, for those of us who read self help books on a daily basis, you might be looking for more.

At the Top of Your Game
Finally - a book that delivers on its promise to help you get to the top of your game, to help you achieve maximal performance levels in life - and does so using a common sense approach that integrates experience, study and science with focus and commitment. The key is training like an athlete whether its following an exercise or nutrition program or developing a positive attitude. What a refreshingly realistic concept in this "a pill a day takes the fat away" world! Through Dr. Groppel's convincing clarity, it all makes perfect sense. And you don't have to be in the business arena to benefit from the principles of THE CORPORATE ATHLETE. Maximizing performance can be a goal that crosses age, gender and occupational or vocational boundaries. But what makes this book stand out for me is Dr. Groppel's holistic approach - completing the palate of fitness by incorporating the physical, mental and emotional with the spiritual. It takes courage to take spirituality out of its politically correct closet and plop it onto the Board Room table, to make it a key component of performance enhancement. Could it be that the growth of courage, confidence, conviction and character is a natural end product of one's development into the ultimate corporate athlete? I am convinced, after reading the book, that this is the case. ... Read more

Book Description

How much do you really know about managing your money? Do you know what steps you should taketo protect yourself before you say "I do"? Is it possibleyour husband has forgotten to remove his ex-wife's name as the beneficiary of his life insurance? (Don't smirk, it happens all the time.) Can you talk to your accountant as comfortably as you hairdresser? If you had a medical catastrophe or lost your job, would you have enough money to tide you over?

Most women do not have good answers to these questions, and neither did Diane Terman Felenstein and her friends. Though smart and accomplished in many arenas, every one of them -- like women everywhere -- had fears about dealing with money. They were reluctant to talk candidly about financial issues with their husbands, intimidated by their advisors, and afraid to tackle their finances alone -- as 90 percent of women eventually must do. The bottom line became increasingly clear: Ifyou want a safe and secure future, you have to learn how tomanage your money today. With this in mind, Felenstein set out to form an investment club and asked Marilyn Crockett, a highly successful financial consultant, to be its chief expert. Their book, The Money Club, is the result of their experience -- and is the only complete financial guide written by women for women that explains the secrets of managing money, whether you have $5,000 in assets or $50,000. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent, for men and women
This is an excellent book. Sure, every woman should read it, but it is a great fundamental financial planning resource for men, too. If you are looking for a way to get started, start here. You will learn the basics of investments, insurance, estate planning, etc. And the book gradually progresses to more complex concepts.

GREAT HAND BOOK FOR EVERY WOMAN FROM PARK AVE TO PEORIA
EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO READ ANDEXPERIENCE WHAT EVEN THE MOST SOPHISTICATED WOMEN IGNORED...THEIR FINANCIAL HEALTH. 9 OUT OF 10 WOMEN WILL AT ONE TIME BE ALONE IN THEIR LIVES...6 OF 8 WOMEN WHOSE HUSBAND DIES NOW WILL SUFFER SEVERE FINANCIAL DISTRESS...THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL...IT HAPPENED TO ME---AND THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH HORROR STORIES OF WHAT OTHER WOMEN JUST LIKE YOU HAVE IGNORED FOR SO LONG. I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY IT ... Read more

Book Description

We found the truly gifted law professors most law students can only dream about – the professors who draw rave reviews, not only for their scholarship, but for their ability to make the law easy to understand.We asked these select few professors to condense their courses into a single lecture.And it’s these lectures you’ll find in the Law School Legends Series.With Law School Legends, you’ll get a brilliant law professor explaining an entire subject to you in one simple, dynamic lecture.The Law School Legends make even the most difficult concepts crystal clear.You’ll understand the big picture, and how all the concepts fit together.You’ll get hundred of examples and exam tips, honed over decades in the classroom.But best of all, you’ll get insights you can only get from America’s greatest law professors! ... Read more

Book Description

Financial expert and author Suze Orman is a Certified Financial Planner, a Registered Investment Advisor, and a Commodity Trading Advisor with over sixteen years of experience with major Wall Street financial institutions. Her firm, Suze Orman Financial Group, established in 1987, services nearly 1,000 new clients each year. She was cofounder, in 1990, of Consumers for Retirement Independence, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the senior community on how to become truly financially independent. From 1983 to 1987, Ms. Orman served as Vice President of Investments for Prudential Bache Securities. During her tenure there she earned the reputation of being one of the nation's experts on tax-deferred insurance investing. From 1980 to 1983, she was an Account Executive specializing in retirement planning at Merrill Lynch.

A regular on the CNN/FN show "Take It Personally," where she makes financial advice fun and accessible, Suze Orman currently appears bimonthly on the nationally syndicated morning show "Fox After Breakfast" as its financial expert. She also writes a financial column that began appearing in the nationally distributed magazine Self in February 1997. Continually sought out by the media for her accurate and unbiased opinion, she is quoted frequently in such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Mirabella, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Consumer's Digest, among others. Ms. Orman also serves as an expert witness in security fraud and insurance cases. She testifies in matters where elderly persons have lost funds through negligent actions of major brokerage/insurance firms.

The author of You've Earned It, Don't Lose It, which has sold over 150,000 copies in hardcover, Ms. Orman appears monthly on QVC in conjunction with that title. The book is currently selling close to 15,000 copies a month on the television shopping network, making it one of the top sellers. Commissioned by America Online to create a web site for its web subsidiary, GNN, Ms. Orman's home page, "The Bag Lady Syndrome," has been featured for over fifteen months and continues to be one of its most popular hits. She is also known as the money coach for iVillage's popular site on AOL called "About Work," where she personally answers the financial questions of thousands of people. Visit Suze on the Web.

2 cassettes / 3 hours
Read by the Author ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Practical, useful, multidimensional, immediate use
Just finished reading this...and then immediately went into work and changed my 401(k) contribution to the maximum. Also am looking for a money market account and will begin managing my own IRA stuff...now that I feel more comfortable doing it. Plan to lend the book to friends, and called my parents to tell them to get a copy and start getting things in order...such as getting a trust instead of a will, getting LTC insurance, etc. I liked her straightforward writing style; she has a knack for explaining the "mysterious" world of investing and finance in a way you can quickly and easily understand. She makes you feel more confident...that you can indeed manage your money. In today's often confusing world, it was very helpful to hear that you can trust your intuition and you don't have to "fall prey" to financial advisors. Also, from personal experience, I know that her advice about "good brings good" and "respect of money will bring you more money" is true. My husband got in a serious accident a year ago and at the time we were in a bad bad financial position--no emergency funds, high credit card debt, prospects of little or no income. This "kick in the pants" helped me to take control of my money and now a year later our credit cards are paid off, we have 4 months of bills in the bank, and I am maxing out my 401(k). Suze Orman's book came to me just when I was ready for the next step, and I am putting it to good use. I highly recommend!!!

Financial Serenity
While this author describes 9 steps towards "Financial Freedom," I kept asking myself, "But what about ...?"

For those of who want a great primer into recreating your financial identity, this is an excellent beginning.

Suze Orman started out with a degree in Sociology (And she was attacked in the financial world for having "too much psychobabble").

Two events that compelled her to learn about and to be an expert on money:
1. When her father's store caught on fire, he desperately ran
into the store to grab his cash register. This caused him to
be badly burned. And it taught Suze Orman to learn about
investments, savings and related topics.
2. After college, she was a stock broker for Merrill Lynch.
This is where she learned the difference between what was
being told to the public, and what the truth about money is.

Through these events she discovered her life's work is telling people the truth about money.

Within this book Orman talks a lot about uncovering your money memories, and seeing where those money memories have led you to have the relationship to money that you now have.

She also covers many fundamental topics about retirement and investing in this book. But she does not take readers through the journey of earning a dollar, to growing that dollar into several millions - or to allowing that money to work for you.

I'd suggest that you read these seven books, after reading "Nine Steps to Financial Freedom":
1. "More Wealth Without Risk," by Charles Givens
2. "Financial Self-Defense," by Charles Givens
3. "The Millionaire Next Door," by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D., &
William D. Danko, Ph.D.
4. "Simple Abundance," by Sarah Ban Breathnach
5. "Creating Money," by Sanaya Roman & Duane Packer
6. "Girl, Get Your Money Straight!" by Glinda Bridgforth
7. "Open Your Mind to Prosperity," by Catherine Ponder

Where most financial books assume that you have money, and that you are not only ready to allow that money to work harder than you work, they also assume that you will be at peace with this.

Read "Nine Steps to Financial Freedom," to face your past, and to practice, for the sake of practicing to be a peace with your control over money.

Useful bits
I found this book to be sowewhat educational with a some good ideas here and there. With books like this, I try the philosophy "absorb what is useful". Some things are very helpful and some are just conceit in my opinion. I wouldn't pay too much for it, but every little bit of simple info helps.

Outstanding book Suze
The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom is OUTSTANDING in presentation and content. Suze is indeed the Queen of personal finance and the most widely read financial author today.

In addition to this great book, I also recommend More Wealth Without Risk and Financial Self Defense by Charles Givens. Two books that gives even more OUTSTANDING advice that you won't find anywhere else.

Great books. Good luck!

My favorite personal finance book
Although Suze has written newer material, 9 Steps is still my favorite personal finance book. I believe it is the best personal finance book bar none.

These fans of Quinn need to get a life. If Quinn is so great, how come her book doesn't sell and those that bought it [myself included] were vastly dissappointed with it.

Besides, Quinn has her own place to write reviews. Why come over here unless it is a desperate attempt to drum up interest in her pathetic book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (55)

Steps to enhance success Emotionally!
How we need to over ride our emotions sometimes! Daniel Goleman's book is indeed an insight to cultivate one's mind emotionally. Understanding and raising emotional intelligence is essential to your success and leadership potentials. Daniel selects examples and anecdotes from the Fortune 500 companies which shows the competency to deal with various factors at workplace. The training tools, conflict management, building bonds and motivation, encouragement and inspirations are really necessary not with the IQs only but with the 'Emotional Intelligence skills' which enhance leadership to excel. The author shows the way how to manage feelings, interact, communicate and tackle with the issues in organization. Initiative, self control, optimism are some key factors of personal competency which make the emotional control board of the mind geared up to treat right, care and understand. A must read for every business. Its never an arrogance, ego or pride but be in tune with 'Emotional Intelligence'- Thats the trick of the trades for every savvy Leader.

The emotional competence framework
The author suggests five competencies in which we can manage ourselves:

Self awareness (Emotional Awareness, self-accessment, self-confidence)

Self Regulation (Self-Control, Trustworthiness, adaptiblity, innovation)

Motivation (achievement driven, commitment, initiative, optimism)

Empathy (understanding others, developing others, service oriented, politically aware),

Social skills (influence, conflict management, leadership, catalyst, building bonds, collaboration and cooperation, and team).

The book's frame-work focuses on the five competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social skills.

I liked the personal stories illustrating the positive effects of soft skills. The storie sources came from friends, associates, and research cases.

I disliked the conclusions drawn from the stories suggesting confidence in cause and effect of EQ results.

I liked what Dr Goleman was advocating about the importance of people skills: social radar, arts of influence, and collaboration and teams.

I disliked lack of detail methodology to achieve the desired results. I felt there was too much contrast between IQ verse EQ. The book provides a strong case argument for an investment in Emotional Intelligent.

One shocking point the author makes early in the book, states that the top 1 percent of the Emotionally Intelligent in the IT field are 1200 percent more productive. I would have liked to read more cases studies about these observations and conclusions for his study. That statement alone sparked a ton of curiousity about EQ. I'm very interested in learning how effective IT managers are in accessing the emotional needs of their employees and customers and how to implement EQ to improve performance.

I disliked the lack of practical application. There was a disconnect between converting ideas of EQ into action. I felt the book focused too much on the principles of EQ, rather than the practical application of EQ. Basically he did not effectively answer the question, " How can I uses the EQ in my job to make a difference." I didn't get the opportunity to say "cool EQ works for me"

I read both and picked the Quickbook
This book was recommended to me as a resource for emotional intelligence in the workplace. I was looking for something to give to managers here at my company and I also puchased the recommended title on this page, The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook. Working is alright and I can see how it was a good resource when it came out in 1998, but The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook is more up to date and far more practical. It also worked well for us because it comes with a free emotional intelligence test online.

Packed With Knowledge!
Daniel Goleman followed up his bestselling classic Emotional Intelligence with this equally classic sequel that focuses on how emotional intelligence is applied in the workplace. Insightful and richly detailed, Goleman's work educates and inspires without ever sounding trite or sappy, like some annoying quick-fix scheme. If you are leadership bound and think success is all about strategy and technique, this will provide some very useful insights into what people really think about managing and being managed. The most intriguing sections focus on the application of emotional intelligence at work, but it would be pretty useful at home, too (if we could just get out of the office). If you think that you don't need to be more aware of the emotional undercurrents all around you, we warn that you need to read this most of all.

Success is based on how you apply emotional intelligence
This is a wonderful book, and is truly an insightful look at what helps us to be successful in leadership positions in the workplace. The old model of senior management was based on owning all the information and knowledge and being able to understand what everyone does in fine detail, and was often the "promoted-up-through-the-ranks" type of leader. But with modern business involving so much change, and constantly shifting market demands and organizational structures, what worked well yesterday will not move the organization or your career ahead tomorrow.

The author uses as a platform the work on Emotional Intelligence, which unlike typically defined intelligence, focuses on the ability to apply emotional and inspirational information in a variety of social settings and through a vast array of relationships. It is this ability he concludes that predicts success in today's workplace.

Among the areas of discussion are five competencies in which our ability is revealed. The first is "Self Awareness" which includes emotional awareness, self-assessment, and self-confidence. How many times have we worked for or with someone who could not control their emotions and lacked the self awareness to understand how their actions impacted those around them? The importance of balancing performance while exhibiting the values of the organization through a positive culture has never been more in need. Many who have the intelligence to do the work, lack the emotional intelligence to build the relationships and culture needed to get the work done through others. The book explores these pitfalls and discusses suggestions for change.

The other areas are similar: "Self Regulation" (self-control, trustworthiness, adaptability, innovation), "Motivation" (achievement driven, commitment, initiative, and optimism), "Empathy" (understanding others, developing others, service oriented, politically aware), and "Social Skills" (influence, conflict management, leadership, catalyst, building bonds, collaboration and cooperation, and teamwork).

All of the five competencies are presented well, with examples and suggestions for improvement. Some reviewers have noted the lack of "scientific" type of analysis, but I feel that misses the point. The first hurdle to overcome if one wants to be as successful as possible is a basic awareness of the importance of interpersonal skills, and building strong working relationships with others. The opportunity for a purely autocratic style to operate in today's business is rare and therefore the majority of those leading businesses will need to focus on how they apply their EQ, not just their IQ.

This book does an excellent job at presenting what EQ success looks like and why it is important. It is not a step by step manual for improving one's business success, as that would ironically be an IQ approach. The book instead is a great eye-opener of the importance of emotions, and how we read others and interact with them. Highly recommended, and a great starting point for improving your ability to lead others in today's business environment. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Built to Last became an instant business classic. This audio abridgement is read by the authors, who alternate chapters. Collins is a bit breathlessly enthusiastic, but clear and interesting; Porras, unfortunately, is poorly inflected and wooden. They set out to determine what's special about "visionary" companies--the Disneys, Wal-Marts, and Mercks, companies at the very top of their game that have demonstrated longevity and great brand image. The authors compare 18 "visionary" picks to a control group of "successful-but-second-rank" companies. Thus Disney is compared to Columbia Pictures, Ford to GM, and so on.

A central myth, according to the authors, is that visionary companies start with a great product and are pushed into the future by charismatic leaders. Usually false, Collins and Porras find. Much more important, and a much more telling line of demarcation between a wild success like 3M and an also-ran like Norton, is flexibility. 3M had no master plan, little structure, and no prima donnas. Instead it had an atmosphere in which bright people were not afraid to "try a lot of stuff and keep what works."

If you listen to this audiocassette on your daily commute, you may discover whether you are headed to a "visionary" place of work--and, if so, whether you are the kind of employee who fits your employer's vision. (Running time: two hours, two cassettes) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (101)

A Business Student's Perspective
Having spent the last four years of our lives being taught to think about every business problem in a particular way, it was great to read a business book that encourages you to "think outside of the box." We have read many textbooks in our time at University, and it was refreshing to read a book that expressed clear and simple ideas that we will remember after we graduate. "Built To Last" started off strong by 'shattering' the 12 well-known "myths" that they teach us in school. The book then continued with the author's model that is based around the premise of preserving the core ideology, and stimulating progress within the organization; it uses simple points that build on one another to create a first-rate framework. The authors make their points at the beginning of each chapter and then build on them with numerous examples of 'visionary' companies...Some of our favorite points were:
- The true definition of a core ideology; including the distinction between a core purpose and core values;
- Encourage trying lots of stuff and keeping what works;
- And, "The Genius of the And"...it is possible to have two things at once.
Although, this book was primarily targeted towards entrepreneurs and CEO's, we found that we could use this book for our future career search and within our daily lives. For example, the chapter titled Cults and Cultures outlined the extraordinary commitment employees have to their particular organization; Personally, we don't think we have what it takes to be a true "Nordie," but it gave us insight into what characteristics and traits to be looking for in an organization we would like to work for.
Some of the inferior traits of the book are that there were some parts in the novel where the authors seem to stretch their examples to fit within their framework, and they came across as being slightly bias to their own theories. We also found that they never mention the same company in every chapter, which made it harder to follow and also harder to believe that every visionary company fit all aspects of their model. However, overall, this book is an easy read, with a simple model that makes sense. It uses interesting companies and is backed up by 6 years of intense research. We recommend this book to any student who is looking to think on different terms than what we are being taught in school.

Unprecedented, Compelling, Well-Researched
"Built to Last" is one of those rare non-fiction books you just can't put down. Unequivocally the best "business" book I have ever read, "Built to Last" by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras is a compelling, thorough, well-written, unprecedented look at what it takes to "create and achieve long-lasting greatness as a visionary corporation." Unlike many current "trendy" management and "business success" books out on the market, Collins and Porras differentiate "Built to Last" by using their own six-year comprehensive, well-documented research study as the basis for further analysis.

What separates "Built to Last" is that each visionary company (3M, HP, Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart...) is contrasted with a comparison company founded in the same time, in the same industry, with similar founding products and markets (Norton, TI, Colgate, Ames...). Perhaps what I found most intriguing were some of the twelve "shattered myths" they go on to counter throughout the book:

1. It takes a great idea to start a great company
2. Visionary companies require great and charismatic visionary leaders
3. Visionary companies share a common subset of "correct" core values
4. Highly successful companies make their best moves by brilliant and complex strategic planning
5. The most successful companies focus primarily on beating the competition

As a current business student with a summer internship in a "visionary company," I was amazed as their careful analysis rang true. This is one book I can highly recommend to any student, professional, or business educator looking for those not-so-subtle traits that characterize a truly visionary company.

The Perfect Business Book - A Must Read
The next time you see a book that casts a business leader as a mythical or heroic figure, go back to this book and see if the leader passes the 'Level 5 Leader' tests. Sandy Weill, for example, fails that test miserably, since he cares nothing for his company or its employees, and only about feeding his insatiable appetite for personal profit, self-aggrandizement, and great food, in that order. Weill is an example of the so-called celebrity leaders who are very reluctant to groom and name their successors, since they care far more about holding onto their power than for the longer-term welfare of the company and its employees. The last thing you'd see these quasi-leaders do is sacrifice their power or money for longer benefit of the company. Eisner is another perfect example of Emperor-CEO who got paid obscene amount of money and drove out top talents from Disney, while its business and stock prices languished badly.

A perfect business book - erudite, entertaining, and relevant - and a must-read for anyone who ever dreamed of becoming (or simply working for) the true business leader.

Easy to read & Shattered Myths
Overall, this is an excellent book about how to build a company that will stand the test of time. The authors present the information in a format that is easy to read for the senior executive or someone with no business experience. While the authors present detailed and informative examples of actions that businesses have taken to be successful, the number of examples can become cumbersome. If someone is looking for a quick reference of strategies to improve a company, this is probably not the book for them, but if an individual is looking for an in depth report on techniques used by companies, it would be a useful tool. This book's intent is to show you the cogs that matter and give you some framework by which to align them to drive a company constantly/relentlessly forward. Often managers get lost in the P&L of the day. While that is important, it may not be enough to keep the fiber of the organization together. This book can serve as a reminder to us all of what is important to maintain a business that is financially successful but more importantly keeps its employees and customers happy. This book's simple goal is to shatter two myths that many believe a visionary company is founded upon, the incredibly innovative product and the charismatic leader.

The genius of the "AND" -- use his book AND his web site
I listened to the audio version on my way to work. The bonus author interview at the end was the best part. It included a pitch for one of his other books "Good to Great". Jim Collins also has a web site, of the same name, that has an additional 10 non business books that he recommends. These additional resources have provided two of the next books I plan on reading.
As far as Built to Last goes, the following are some of his key concepts from this book.
1. Be a "Clock builder" instead of a "teller of time"
2. BHAGS (def in the book)
3. The "and" instead of the "or"
4. Preserve the core
5. Cult like corporate cultures
6. Stimulating progress
7. Alignment
8. All leaders die
Two other tid bits that caught my attention: The fact about how at the 18 visionary companies only 4 CEO's have ever been selected to the top spot in these organizations from outside the company. And finally the 3M example of how to effectively facilitate interaction between internal departments, by inventing a Technology Sharing Award and Technical Honor Society.
If you are a business type climbing the corporate ladder, it is worth a read. 3.5 to 4 stars ... Read more

Book Description

"Now Coach K reveals his personal principles for leadership, from dealing with adversity in life or on the basketball court, to taking responsibility for your actions, to learning how to trust your heartfelt instincts in times of trouble. The result is a book that shows how you can be successful in any leadership challenges you face.

LEADING WITH THE HEART chronicles Coach K's background in a Polish Chicago neighborhood, where he was guided by parents who demanded honesty and integrity. From his days at the U.S. Military Academy playing under Coach Bobby Knight, Krzyzewski first learned that coaching meant more than showing players what to do and how to do it. It meant building an emotional bond of trust that gives his players the confidence and freedom to succeed both on and off the court. From his tenure as the Duke head coach, Coach K illustrates his leadership insights and shows you how to:

Summon the courage to endure adversity and critics--follow through with your plans and commitments, even when everyone else is saying you can't do it.

Learn how to think on your feet--a leader has to come in with a great game plan but must know when to improvise and make adjustments.

Take responsibility for how your team performs--if you're a stickler for excellence, then winning will be a natural by-product.

Give your players time and attention--commit to giving them 100 percent of your focus and they'll commit 100 percent of their effort. An inspiring look into the heart and mind of an extraordinary leader, LEADING WITH THE HEART is about bringing out the best and demanding the best--from ourselves, from those around us, and from any organization that is playing to win today." ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Steps to a Dream
My stepdaughter decided she wanted to go to Duke at the age of six, when she fell in love with Bobby Hurley's vibrant playing style. As a result, we've watched the growth of Duke's men and women's basketball programs over the years. Recently, we took my stepdaughter, now sixteen, to see the campus and what do you know; there in Cameron Indoor Stadium was Coach K with about 250 young men for basketball camp. We bought the book on the way out and I read the entire book in one day.

This book appeals on several levels. For a teenager, it can be a road map to help reach a dream. Coach K describes what he looks for in prospective players and his combination of talent, respect for authority and coachability clearly distinguish any promising athelete. However, they are equally hallmarks of the best entry level professsionals in business.

Coach K's use of the phases in a season work very well as a framework to build his ideas on. The analogies to business situations, which he makes from time to time, are inescapable for anyone who leans to team based leadership styles.

In our work, this book will become the basis for a team building exercise to help launch a new team and a new business.

I strongly recommend reading the book and sharing it with your team and your kids. It will be a great discussion source for both groups you need to communicate with.

Excellent book in all regards
I graduated from Duke in 68 and am an avowed fan of Coach K.However, I've hit a rut in my reading recently, can't find anything that seems stimulatiing or interesting.I was afraid this book would just be another of those "smaltzy" rah rah type of books that coaches(and usually someone else write), but I was happily surprised. It is really worth everyones attention, whether to motivate a business person or anyone on how to live ones life. The usual blah blahing about excellence is pretty much left out, thank goodness, and the book is full of very helpful aphorisms about what priorities to put first and how to lead a wholesome and successful life,even if you don't have a jump shot.Coach K comes across as really honest and sincere.I can't stand phonies and really was pleasantly surprised by the book. Lots of real life anecdotes about games, players, situations and how to take defeat.Truly inspirational from a superb leader. For sports fans, look what he did with the team of mostly freshman this year, way beyond anyones expectations.He uses his heart a lot, but also his head.You can also read and skip around in the book, its not like a novel.Again, his repeated emphasis on how to deal with defeat and failure shows true wisdom, far beyond that of most college coaches. I remember the tonge in cheek defintion of a college basketball coach by a player once."you have to be a little bit crazy to base your career on someone else's jump shot." Coach K is crazy like a fox.

More about basketball and coaching than leadership
As one who is interested in leadership development, I was disapointed in this book. For those of you who are coaches of athletic teams this book will be usefull. For those who are looking at leadership for business, government etc, there are likely better books out there that cover the subject minus the glory of the Duke basketball team.

Very Motivational!
Let me first preface this by saying I'm a huge Duke fan...
now, let me tell you that if you are in any position of leadership, this is a must-read! Coach K's outlook on leadership is very positive and easy to work into any type of job. I even found things to use while teaching 2nd graders!
If you are anti-Duke, you may be put off to references to past players, but the leadership ideas are so valuable! If you have ever read Pat Riley's book on leadership and enjoyed it, you will definitely enjoy this one!!

Simply phenomenal
One of the few "good guys" in college basketball, Coach K always seems to have two things in common that are usually mutually exclusive in college sports - a superlative record of winning & more importantly, a superlative family atmosphere. Too many times in both college and in business we hear of two types of coaches and managers - the overly soft players coach or the motivate by fear authoritarian type. Seldom have we seen a coach succeed at such a high level who, through a tireless work ethic, has engendered such indelible values as trust, personal responsibility, honesty, teamwork, the ability to laugh at one's mistakes, selflessness, & a genuine love for those on your team as if they were your family.

This is, as opposed to a memoir, a leadership book - one that everyone who has followed Duke would enjoy and learn from. Coach K reveals his secrets to motivating players, his core values, how to deal with adversity, how to maintain a level of excellence, & what it takes to get to the top - in sports, business, and in life. Coach K chronicles humorous and educational anecdotal stories with his players such as Chris Collins, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Jeff Capel, Danny Ferry, Trajan Langdon, Wojo, Johnny Dawkins, & Shane Battier to name a few that helped mold them into not only great players on the court, but more importantly, great leaders off of the court. The audio version is especially poignant and well read. ... Read more

Book Description

When Rick Pitino became the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, he took them from NCAA probation to four spectacular Final Four appearances, including the championship in 1996 and an incredible return to the NCAA Finals in 1997. Under Pitino's leadership, the Wildcats garnered a 70 percent winning record. Now the head coach of the Boston Celtics, Pitino has clearly become a master at molding great players and great teams. What's his secret to success?

Pitino's method--and the reason he's both a peerless basketball coach and one of the most sought-af