Reviews (4)

This Book is SO BAD it should be considered a COMIC.
Angel Thompson took a class with Lin Yun (of Yun Lin church fame) and decided she was an expert. That's why her book contradicts itself every third sentence. It's more full of holes than swiss cheese. It's so bad that Ms. Thompson had to call in an AUTHENTIC practitioner to analyze her home because her attempts at "Feng Shui" caused her nothing but grief. And this is the sort of book you would recommend to someone or buy for yourself?

A Feng Shui Favorite
Here is a feng shui treasure. Angel Thompson presents an incredible amount of information - it is like a textbook. If you want to learn about the five elements to include color, shapes, uses, meaning, planet etc. etc. well here's your book. I found her explanation of yin/yang to be clear, consise and thought provoking. I finally understand this often misunderstood Eastern concept. Besides giving useful tips for the home, there is also a wealth of info for your career and/or business. The highlight of this book goes beyond the facts presented - Ms. Thompson touches upon the philosophy that is the foundation of feng shui. What a beautiful life impacting message.

Feng Shui, translated into New Age babble

I got this book because of only one reason:: while browsing through Amazon.com's myriad menus one boring, listless, evening, I came across a review of this book, which had won one of those "Review of the Month" contests held at Amazon.com.

Okay, so let me be blunt. That review of the book is much better reading than the book itself. This book is written in the usual New Age speak that is full of the sound of mystic references and yet signifying nothing in the end.

Feng Shui is a real living, breathing, way of thinking (or superstition) for many Chinese and other Asians. My mother would always admonish us never to get a house with its front door facing to the West, and she would try to align our beds along a North-South Axis, which would make us into smarter or better or healthier people or something like that. I haven't figured out the part about the beds yet, but I have discovered that a house with the front door facing West can get awfully hot with the sun blazing through the front windows in the afternoons. So, much like the Jews and Muslims not eating pork, there really must be something to Feng Shui after all.

I really hoped that this book would give me some useful insights into life's little rules, such as the ones from my mother, but, instead, this book was just so hard to decipher that I finally gave up.

Rearrange the furniture for your mental health.
No wonder my checkbook hasn't balanced and I've been feeling edgy and crankier than usual. I need to rearrange the furniture, according to author Angel Thompson in her book Feng Shui: How To Achieve the Most Harmonious ARrangement of Your Home and Office. While moving the head of my bed to the north wall of the bedroom (to promote the natural flow of positive energy, which equalizes temperaments) and cleaning my oven (which increases cash flow) didn't seem at first like reasonable solutions, my interest in the subject grew the deeper into the book I moved. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice based on the idea that the placement and arrangement of buildings, walkways, doors, furniture, plants, mirrors and other objects can ensure harmony in life. Good feng shui encourages cosmic energy (chi) to flow abundantly, creating a balanced environment and improved health, love, peace and prosperity for persons who live or work in the space. Even the color of point on a door can disrupt the flow of chi, with negative results for the dwellers. Thompson presents a wealth of complicated information in an easy to read manner, which when mentally assembled, makes one wonder if there isn't some credence to the philosophy. Feng Shui is the latest New Age element to flow into the mainstream, giving the unenlightened masses a chance to bring old ideas into the new century. I haven't quite figured out how to convince my boss I could be far more creative if I replaced my grungy metal desk with a more stately model fashioned out of walnut. Maybe I'll let him borrow the book ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Instant pain relief in any environment
The book arrived as we were about to leave for Munich. I threw it into my bag and used it just 14 hours later at the Auberstrasser Hotel. I turned to page 61, Headache/Neck Pain, did the exercise in two minutes and the pain was instantly gone.

Several weeks later, at home, the Telecom Twist exercise minimized my lower back pain so greatly that I could function again.

If you experience any kind of pain at home, the office or travel, Office Yoga is the companion you will be glad you took along. It's small 4 1/2" x 7" by 3/8" thick book is convenient to place in your pocket or purse. You will be glad to have it when pain or stress strikes. ... Read more

Book Description

"Expands the common understanding of workaholism...will help many individuals recognize that they are not alone, that there may be more rewarding lifestyles."—Chicago Tribune

"Fassel puts her finger on a key problem in the workplace today: For many people, work, as currently defined in our society, has become a substitute for life."—Chicago Tribune

"Fassel debunks the myth that work addicts get ahead...She helps guide the reader a more balanced life through simple and proven techniques."—Feminist Bookstore News ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Too burdened with 12-step jargon to be useful
Fassel is taking on an issue that I believe is crucial in our society and I am pleased to see that, but I am disappointed in this book. She fails to get at the heart of some of the issues she raises because she is so mired in twelve-step jargon. Is it really impossible to cut back to a reasonable work load without calling on a "higher power" and going to meetings? And is the jargon of "disease" and "addiction" really applicable here? I also grew weary of the endless neologisms using the suffix "-aholic, with words like "care-aholic." This has really become overused.

I'd rather see a book that addresses the REAL issues--the unrealistic demands of companies and bosses, our society's obsession with "getting ahead" and consumption, our lack of adequate vacation time. Many other cultures have shorter work weeks, more vacation time and better family leave policies than ours, and they didn't have to go twelve-stepping to do it--they developed POLITICAL and social solutions to overwork instead. It seems we could do that here. Fassel's approach seems inadequate--and what good does it do for "work-aholics" to "make searching and fearless moral inventories of themselves" if our society's approach to the economy does not change?

So glad it's back in print
Working Ourselves to Death changed my life. I now HAVE a life. Fassel sheds light on the consequences of overinvolvement in work and provides concrete advice on how to extract yourself from the kind of soul-killing obsession that work can become. If you can't leave the office behind, this book will show you the way out. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Once an interested reader; advocate of Chauncey's "work"...
I was the victim of work abuse to the magnitude of it being actual physical "torture"--my trauma psychologist calls it...I looked all over the inernet/libraries etc to find a book that could help me relate to my experiences that led to my being emotionally disabled with PTSD and as a result of the abuse I am physically disabled now and am in a wheelchair due to the abuse to my spine & nerves to feet/legs.

I first found Chauncey's webpage & ordered the book. Though Chauncey himself & I often made contact regarding both of our work abuse experiences, after much time, Hare actually treated me much as the shunned "scapegoat" he discusses with much detail in his book.

I really couldn't connect with this book. Period. Though they used case study examples it was hard for me to empathize when none of the victims/survivors were mentioned in the book as having been physically abused; and yet Hare told me that one really had been physically abused but Hare & wife, Wyatt, chose to not mention these dtails of that one case because as Hare explained to me,"No one would believe" the worker could have been physicaly assaulted in the curent American "workplace." Excuse me?

What is the point of writing this kind of book, Hare, if you mislead the audience right away; just so people might "believe" your book? Mr. Hare?

If you can't write the truth; what's the point?

This was the worst book I have read in years....totally unauthentic, lame, tiring, uninspired...Hare should pay us to read his book.

A survivor's reaction to "Work Abuse"
Wyatt and Hare are doing for work abuse what Anita Hill did for sexual abuse. After suffering four years of chronic scapegoating and three years of subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder, "Work Abuse" finally afforded me the luxury of crying from relief. Though my professional career is over now, I can take deep comfort in knowing that what happened to me was very real and very much denied by everyone concerned. Americans are indeed being brutalized in the workforce; we blame ourselves. But this abuse can be recognized and dealt with, thereby sparing careers, lives, families, and even the abusive institutions and organizations that traumatize us. We owe much gratitude to Judith Wyatt and Chauncey Hare for their profound introduction to the dialogue on this issue of work abuse. Let the healing begin.

Essential for Work Abuse Toolkit
Work Abuse is the book those of us toiling in abusiveworkplaces havebeen looking for. In clear concise language, the book offers real and positive means to survive while working to reduce abuse in workplaces. It is an essential tool kit for Union leaders and others who have seen the devastation of work abuse. The solutions offered do not cause further harm to the individuals caught up in this situation. I have used the methods in the book and have provided it to many others. The universal response is delight at finally finding a way to survive and grow despite an abusive work situation. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Work takes up most of the time in our lives-why is it sometimes hard to have a great day? These techniques, used by Fortune 100 companies with incredible success, help you take control of the things you can change in your work environment that interfere with your happiness and success at work. You actually have more power than you may think to make your workday great. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Good Read!
When a book has a smiley-face on the cover, you pretty much know what to expect. And you won't be disappointed with this one; it's upbeat all the way. This optimistic book would make a great little gift (even for yourself). Stephanie Goddard Davidson brings her considerable expertise to this simple little book of 101 tips (one per page) for improving your productivity. Here's how to minimize stress and become happier at work. The suggestions range from one-sentence instructions to a couple of paragraphs each, and are valid, practical and often thought-provoking. We at getAbstract recommend it to anyone with a job and a susceptibility to being cheered up - it just might get you through a bad day.

Read This and You Will No Longer Complain When You Get Home
This book has given me a lot of helpful hints...I have actually stopped complaining at work and especially at home...I leave my job at my job...and that's the important thing. I also find that by doing these helpful hints, I smile a lot more during the day. :)

101 Ways to Have a Good Day at Work
101 Ways to Have A Great Day at Work is a must for busy managers. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of work and forget to recognize employees or make work a fun environment. Ms. Davidson's book is a quick and easy reference for ideas! It covers a wide variety of topics and helps me stay focused when I need it the most. I enjoyed the book so much, I recommend it to fellow managers and co-workers all the time.

It reads like a middle management text book
This is another phony-baloney book that does not want you to take a close look at what's really going on in today's corporate environment. Just read some of the comments from the behind-kissers who have endorsed it. "....bring this book into work to share with my co-workers"! Ya right! Save your money and read "Downsize This" by Michael Moore.

I keep it on my desk at work to re-tune my attitude all day!
This is a great little book with practical ideas that work. Put to use, Ms. Davidson's ideas can make a big difference when it comes to relationships, and can result in a more successful department/business. A wonderful gift for co-workers and/or the boss. Buy one and USE it! ... Read more

Book Description

Whether you are choosing your first career, rethinking the choices you made years before, or deciding how to spend pre- and post-retirement years, the right choices can make all the difference. Includes helpful real-life stories. ... Read more

Book Description

Yoga can help you climb the ladder of success faster and enjoy your job more. During his twenty years in Fortune 500 companies, the author realized that he and his colleagues needed a way to meet the daily challenges of their high-pressure work. He turned to yoga with such triumph that he soon began his own yoga consulting business.Yoga Secrets For Business Success contains the simple exercises and meditations-many of which can be done right in the office-that he has been teaching to corporate clients for the past decade.Learn to be a leader, relax in three minutes, energize immediately, relieve headaches, conquer fear and depression, manage anger, improve decision-making, sharpen concentration, become more intuitive and discover your charisma. (5 1/4 x 8 1/2, 224 pages, color photos)

Darshan Singh Khalsa, an internationally certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, founded Transition Stress Management, Inc., providing business innovation consulting and stress management services. His clients include Citibank, Hewlett Packard, IBM, and Southwestern Bell. He is a member of the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association, the International Yoga Association, and the Yoga Alliance. Khalsa is also a master storyboarder and recipient of the Storyboarder of the Year Award in 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Simple work, fast results
This excellent book is unlike any other yoga book I've seen (and I've read dozens and looked at probably hundreds). The focus is on simple hand postures (mudras) combined with breath and chanting to create fast results. The hand gestures are said to open and or balance the body's energy channels to enhance particular personal qualities, such as awareness, relaxation, happiness, cooperation, etc. One drawback is that the chants are in Sanskrit and feel awkward to this westerner's mouth. They don't sound or feel natural and only a few of them seem accessible enough to actually use. Nevertheless, there's obvious value in them -- when I chant the syllable "Ma," it vibrates and opens my heart, just as the author says it does. I find myself using the book nightly for 20 to 30 minutes, doing several of the postures and meditations, but only a few of the chants. With practice I'm increasing the time I spend with individual postures, but even doing them for a few minutes each makes me feel better. The posture for happiness definitely works. After holding the position for only a few minutes I can feel my mood becoming light and full of joy and humor. I borrowed this book from the library and liked it so much I bought a copy because I want to spend a lot more time with it.

Quickly Accessible Stress and Life Solutions
This book is not only clearly and concisely written with powerful, fast acting information, but also stunning to look at. The quality of the paper and beauty of the images make reading Yoga Secrets for Business Success a meditation in itself. It's like owning many yoga manuals and an art book all in one.

I'm a certified yoga teacher, and I particularly appreciate the excellent organization of material, precise times given for each exercise, and the highlighted benefits. The photographs are easy to follow, and the results profound.

I highly recommend Yoga Secrets to both beginners and advanced students alike. Well done Darshan Singh Khalsa! When is the next one coming out?

Don't leave home without it!
I am in sales and frequently travel for work. I always make sure to pack Yoga Secrets for Business Success when I plan for a trip. The stress of traveling can wear on my body, but this book offers secret tips and exercises to keep me healthy and energized while I am away from home.

I recomend this book to anyone who wants to stay positive and free from stress. You can do the exercises at home or in your hotel room when you are away!

There are very clear directions and pictures showing how to do each exercise.

Even if you have never done any yoga, you will find you can do any exercise in this book.

I am happy I found it.

Andre Coveney- Divisional Sale Manager/Square D Company

Learn to be your own guide
This book guides the reader through the process of connecting with the self. Darshan Singh gives us recipes, in easy to understand language, to allow our own inner guru to guide us on the path to oneness and wholeness in a world of high stress and high expectation. He is giving us the experience to be able to connect with our self, a truly wonderful gift. I recommend this book and these techniques to every person in all paths of life. Enjoy the journey and the experience of your own true self.

Yoga
Fascinating book with "prescriptions" for whatever we want, e.g. stress reduction, headache relief or more charisma! Reflective and relaxation time are vital for performance improvement and sanity. This is truly a book for the 21st Century. Even the photographs in the book bring peace of mind. ... Read more

Book Description

Worriers, controllers, attention-seekers, victims, fakes: these are all typical profiles of professionals who let different types of fear keep them from achieving professional success.

And fear has an even more destructive effect: It is the root of conflict, which can undermine the productivity of teams and entire organizations.

Face It identifies several basic behavioral profiles, and helps readers assess their own behaviors as well as those of coworkers. The book explains how the behaviors develop, and offers practical techniques for replacing fear and mistrust with mutual respect and rebuilding the sense of shared commitment to common goals.

Like a session with a good personal coach, Face It will give readers new strength to face their fears, and help them work more productively as individuals and with colleagues. Conquering their demons will allow them to establish a pattern of improved performance, self-esteem, and personal freedom. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent
When my company's Database Administration resorted to hostage-taking in the "Toner Wars" of the late 90s, Kenneth Kaye's book provided the framework for a peaceful settlement which minimised collateral damage. Too late, sadly, for Anton from Human Resources, but his martyrdom will not be forgotten.

Help for all of us who would like to manage conflict at work
Kenneth Kaye's background in therapy and counseling is evident throughout the book. He supplies us with good insights into why conflict exists and how to reframe conflict so that we seize the opportunity presented by conflict to examine how things are and create ways of doing things better. Throughout the book, he provides authentic examples of the types of conflicts present in work places and focuses the reader on learning how to present ideas and observations so that effective dialogue is established and participants are better able to assume responsibility for creating and maintaining effective relationships at work. The Appendix coaches readers on how to engage in "active listening," a skill that is essential for reducing conflict at work. Mr. Kaye helps the reader begin to focus on desired outcomes or goals rather than on difficult behaviors. A real strength of the book is the author's inclusion of various techniques for helping members of work groups examine difficult issues or behaviors such as "springing the finger trap" or using "unilateral disarmament." Anyone committed to being a change agent in his/her organization will use the information in this book just about every day and be tempted to carry it around in a purse or pocket. Mr. Kaye's ideas are equally useful for managing conflict in any group such as a family or sports team. ... Read more

Book Description

Teach trainees to "stress-proof" themselves with these training activities from a renowned Harvard-trained psychologist. Designed to provide lasting results, as well as on-the-spot relaxation, Dr. Robert Epstein's world-famous, science-based "stress-proofing" methods are fun to teach and easy to apply. Filled with what Psychology Todaycalled "gems," the exercises in this book can be taught to your trainees in minutes and can be performed any time, anywhere, with a dramatic effect on mood and performance. The book gives you quick methods for relaxing groups of any size or type and helping them be open and receptive to any training content you present. This simple "bag of tricks" will help trainers raise people's stress-tolerance levels, create a comfortable learning environment, and unleash their creativity. Also included are special methods for handling organizational change and interpersonal conflict; reproducible handouts ; and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great group opener or closer
This book has many different types of exercises for any group to relax and get going or to end on a relaxing note. A must have for any presenter or group facilitator. ... Read more

Book Description

With a goal of preventing injury, Comfort at Your Computer teaches an awareness of potentially harmful positions and shows how to achieve proper sitting posture and correct breathing for pain-free computing. Readers will learn exercises to prevent strain, such as a five-second movement break to do at a desk or a 20-minute stretching session for home. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent
I've developed intense pain from using the mouse (both on right and left hands). I was doing a lot of graphic work, lots of double clicking and dragging. Going weekly to the chiropractor relieved 20% of the pain. After one session with a Feldenkreis practioner, 80% of the pain was gone. She lent me the 1st edition of this book, which is what the review is based on.

I've taken Feldenkreis lessons before, but never noticed much difference. I now realize that this pain has raised my awareness levels of my body in a way I didn't know before. Now I can do simple Feldenkreis lessons at home and feel a definite difference in muscles being looser and moving better. This book is great on raising my body awareness while I am at the computer.

I've professional training in safety and ergonomics. I learned more from this book that was not covered in previous professional training. Understanding about the proper pelvis position while sitting and how it affects your arms was an eye opener. The general public has a misunderstanding of what good posture is supposed to look like.

The only thing I would recommend is a more in depth chapter on the different types of mice (pointing devices) and keyboards available out there, their pros and cons. Having to choose a new pointing device and keyboard for myself has been a daunting task. I've already returned 2 keyboards with centrally located touchpads that relieved some of the pain, but not all. I'm now considering a vertical mouse and the comfort keyboard, which would keep my hands in the vertical position. Maybe this is covered in the new book edition or maybe this topic is too individual to be covered in a generic book.

As the author mentioned to me in an e-mail:

If you sensitize yourself to feelings of balance and ease in your body, you will be better able to detect which ergonomic devices are actually helpful.

I particularly enjoyed having him respond to specific questions I posed.

Highly recommended!

A *very, very* useful book
I completely disagree with the review below from 1/29/01. The most important tool to overcome repetitive strain injury is awareness of how you are using your body & how you may be injuring it by the way you move (or by not moving enough!). The exercises in this book help you become much more aware of your posture, body tension, & awkward movements that may be causing your problems. Learning how to relax your body is essential to recovery.

Even better, the guidance on how to sit has changed my life. I can finally work at my computer without back pain!

BTW, I also recommend Pascarelli's excellent book. These two complement each other nicely.

Fluffy non-specific waste of money
This book is a mushy worthless waste of reading time. I stopped reading after 4 chapters of stuff like, "Now close your eyes and imagine stretching your fingers. Feel the difference. Visualize a butterfly...blablabla"

The "It's not Carpal Tunnel" book was much better; full of stretches and useful advice.

A boon to computer users
This book changed my life at work. I have to admit, I didn't exactly follow the "program" - I skipped to the section on sitting, which is what interested me. I have a chronic, mild, back problem, and I had searched and searched for a computer chair that would allow me to sit without pain. I had 3 loaner chairs from different companies, after trying about 20 at the display area at my university ergonomics group, and with all of them, my back hurt. Then I read and worked with Paul's book - and now I sit on a not wonderful chair, with a rolled up towel (and a cushion to make up for the seat), and I am comfortable, all day. He teaches you how to sit, how to move, without expensive gadgets. Try it.

Try using your mouse left-handed
Amazingly easy to read, sensible and jargon-free, he knows what works but is persuasive rather than didactic (I originally titles this review "Everyone should use the mouse left-handed" but realized how much better it is to use his appproach). Every page has simple experiments to try to help you discover for yourself the most comfortable, healthy positions for body, desk, computer...

The following was an epiphany for me (I'm right-handed) and illustrates his delicate balance between knowing what's good for you and letting you discover it for yourself:

"The number pad and cursor control keys are usually on the right side of the keyboard, and that means that when the alphabetic section is centered in front of you, the right end of the keyboard is about six inches further form your body's centerline than is the left end. Most people are right-handed and place the mouse to the right of the keyboard. Notice that if you do so, you will have to hold your arm considerably farther away from your side than if you place your mouse on the left of your keyboard. That extra extension of your arm will result in significant fatigue and strain in your shoulder and neck. It could even affect your back.

"It is a good idea to put the mouse on the left side of the keyboard--even though for right-handed people it takes a little getting used to...you will get used to it soon, and you will find that it will considerably lessen the work your arm has to do in using the mouse."

Absolutely worth finding even though it's out of print. No other book I've seen on ergonomics comes even close. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Tedious for those not reading the Bible daily
Your view of this book is likely to depend on your religious outlook on life. The book is full of Bible-Quotes. It uses biblical personalities and settings as examples for burnout and the things that bring burnout about. Of those examples that do not figure biblical personalities, at least half have some strong connection to the church.

Personally, I feel that a book that deals with a clinical psychological issue, such as burnout, should rely on academic research and reasoning. That is missing here. Time and again the bible is taken as the source of all truth and the author's interpretation as our guiding line for doing things in life. Especially the latter makes it very difficult reading for people with academic training who are used to take a critical view of unsubstantiated statements.

For Christians facing burnout, this is must reading.
This book is practical, readable, and worthwhile. Even if you're so burned out you can hardly face another book, this one is worth the time! Lots of case histories and real life examples, so you know the authors have dealt with real people. Very solid biblical foundation. Non-technical explanations make it easy reading for anyone. Solid, practical suggestions for avoiding or escaping burnout. This is two books put together in one volume. Reading this book helped me identify the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the potential hazards of my own personality type. Best book on the subject I've seen. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

the most complete kit out there
Admittedly, the whole feng shui craze is a little overblown, but when I went looking for a kit to help me understand it, I found that this was the most comprehensive one out there. Easy enough for me--a rookie--to understand, I think that it's the sort of thing that I'll be able to go back to time and time again.

Dissapointing
I was excited to buy this book for my wife. She has tried to work with it several times and it is not as easy as it appears. On the other hand, after she decorated our new home, most of it was the way it was suggested. I would suggest to buy something else for your home and maybe a cheaper but more practical handbook. ... Read more

Book Description

"Burnout" was first investigated in the 1970s as a crisis of overextended and disillusioned social service workers. However, as the nature of these workers' jobs has changed, so has the nature of the syndrome. The current experience of burnout is lived out in a more challenging social context, with social service workers struggling harder for social credibility and job security. For instance, because of greater demands on their time and energy, teachers are being pressed to do more work with fewer resources, while receiving fewer rewards and less recognition of their efforts.The objective of this volume is to provide new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the nature, conditions, and consequences of burnout, most notably in the teaching profession. To do this, the contributors review the most recent research in the field, and describe research and action agendas designed to combat the incidence of burnout in the workplace.Researchers and professionals in the fields of education and social psychology will be particularly interested in what this volume has to offer. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An energy & renewal oracle
Last Saturday, I sat with a coffee on a bench outside Quatermaine's and enjoyed about an hour and a half of reading Running on Plenty. That morning break was followed by regular respites of reading time during the following week. I confess to have skipped around and not even attempted to read front to back. Not my way. Yet, it didn't take long for me to run out of pages that had none of my highlighted markings on it.

This book is a solid contribution to my professional and personal life. The visuals are friendly and effective -- the key points, inspirational quotes, road to renewal signs, spaciousness, tailor-made graphics, soulful writing, practicality, and page after loving page of simple wisdom -- all satisfying and nourishing.

I appreciated how this book began, with both authors telling personal stories of learning first-hand about the importance of balance and renewal. Each story was poignant and something that anyone can identify with, I would imagine. It's a friendly, friendly book -- from colors to typeface to spacing to mixing of many inspirational and helpful lines from endless sources & resources. There is so much good work & research supporting what has been assembled and written, which is immediately apparent to the reader, that it had the effect of relaxing me --I knew I was in good hands, and that I was being enriched in ways that I needed.

One final observation that has stayed with me...when I closed the book and went to my car to drive home, and on the way home I noticed a very good, rich, dynamic energy in my solar plexus. It wasn't the caffeine because I'm strictly on decaf now. So, I know it was the stirring from the tone and gentle massaging of the stories, insights, resonance, and spirit of your book. That was a wonderful gift. It surprised me to have had an effect on my energy simply from the reading. I think that happens in the presence of beauty, goodness, and truth, which has been masterfully conveyed and honored.

This book has become an important companion, helping me to care for myself so that I can care more effectively for others.

A Must Read for Anyone Who Spends 40 Hours at Work
Balance, balance, balance! We all talk about it but what have you done to balance your life this week? Here's the best answer between two covers.

Suzanne and Krista have done a fabulous job of providing all of us a practical guide for renewing and rejuvenating our bodies, minds, and spirits, not to mention also revitalizing relationships, creativity, and commitments.

Experienceing a lack of energy? Lost your motivation at work? Wondering what life is all about? Suzanne and Krista have given us a gift with Running on Plenty at Work. They provide us with not only a roadmap, but a calendar for what to do every week, and resources for every month of the year. They've thought of everything! And that makes it easy for you to find the balance you are looking for.

The book is jam-packed with tips, exercises, and practical advice. It offers new ideas and ways to look at your world, and it will remind you of all those things you already know but haven't found the time to do. Each of the 100+ ideas is worth the price of the book alone.

Don't hesitate putting this book in your shopping cart. You'll be the winner. ... Read more

Book Description

Stress is now of crucial importance to organisations in terms of the detrimental impact it has on its employees. This book explains - in a practical approach as possible - how to reduce stress levels, and thus increase an organisation's productivity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Could the dramatic changes and burdensome responsibilities common to the business world these days literally be making you sick? Barbara Bailey Reinhold, director of career development and adjunct professor of psychology at Smith College, believes factors ranging from ever-escalating workloads to the constant threat of downsizing may actually be poisoning employment environments and causing us to fall ill. In Toxic Work: How to Overcome Stress, Overload, and Burnout and Revitalize Your Career, she cites examples of those who have "detoxified" their workplaces in order to help readers make their own 9-to-5 lives healthier and more productive. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Insightful Book
The Author definitely has a deep understanding of the negative effects that work can have on your health. I particularly liked the idea of thinking of your career as a collage rather than a photo (i.e., designing a composite career).

I was distracted by all the feminist references. For example, "Bobbie" feels she has disappointed her family because they expected a boy. The Author explains that women are treated like second class citizens despite being "better students and more productive employees than men" and that women have been told all their lives that they are "less valued and valuable than their brothers". The book also tells the sad tale of "Marianne", a closeted lesbian, and her "homophobic VP".

All of that may be true, but it doesn't relate to the topic of overcoming burnout and revitalizing your career. The book was useful, but would have been better if the Author had stayed on-topic.

Extraordinary resource - Used as required text for courses
Toxic Work is a wonderful resource. I have used the book as a required text for both my graduate level Managment Training and Development and Human Resource Management courses. My students, without exception, rave about the content. Dr. Reinhold's humor and insight have provided me and over 100 of my students with a great set of career problem solving tools and a teriffic bibliography. I keep hoping that there will be a sequel ... perhaps Toxic Two. Keep them comming.

Work is Less Toxic Now
Toxic Work is the first reference book in the career section which has a bibliography worth reading. The book not only does all the work for you by collecting and organizing relevent resources, but provides a wealth of examples. The author doesn't give pat answers, but takes the reader through the problem-solving process. I found the book empowering because it provides the structure and information I needed to generate a successful game plan. I became proactive, and am happily employed at the same job that sent me to the book store looking for an escape.

Good starting point for disatisfied workers
TOXIC WORK is broken down into two sections. The first section is devoted to "Recognizing and Managing Toxic Work" while the second is devoted to "Making Major Changes: Designing a Nontoxic Life." Overall, the book surveys the major topics of career disatisfaction with an eye towards recognizing when such disatisfaction causes physical affects. It does not get very deep into possible solutions. Instead, the author prefers to continually recommend that anything more in-depth requires professional counselling. On the contrary, I kept feeling the book could have gone further and that it stopped just when things were getting juicy. I also felt that it was padded with a lot extra examples. Despite these flaws, I consider it to be a good tool to help anyone who is currently less that satisfied with their career. It covers such a broad range of issues that everyone should be able to come away from it with some positive ideas about what to do next an! d some new insights about themselves and their career.

Gearing Up to Survive Abusive Work is Not Enough
This book is quite typical of career guides that take the corporate reality as a given and recommend career change (or worse, job hopping) as the solution to abusive work.

The reader should checkout _Work Abuse: How to Recognize and Survive It_ by Judith Wyatt in order to truly survive abusive work that can't be avoided by job hopping---because work abuse is everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Exploring the role of conflict in organizations, this book helps managers, employees, and organizations come to grips with all types of conflict. Conflict is discussed as a likely result of human interaction, and the key purpose of this program is to assist people in effectively and productively managing and taking advantage of these inevitable conflict situations. A self-contained training curriculum around which an entire organizational conflict management program can be built, this book is designed for use as a guide to harnessing and taking advantage of the enormous energy associated with conflict, and is loaded with activities designed to reinforce and build on the understandings developed and to provide plenty of opportunity to practice what has been learned. Activities can be used to facilitate formal training with individuals, in work groups, or for personal use. ... Read more