A Quick Read --- A Huge Impact
922935
The Art of Client Service makes for an easy and informative resource.  It is a great guideline for advertising professionals on both sides of the corporate-agency relationship.  Mr. Solomon offers valuable tips for success through humorous, testimonial accounts that make it easy for the reader to quickly get the point.  Anyone who has worked in the ad business will quickly identify with each topic and will smile as they remember their own relatable experiences.  As an advertising/marketing executive on the client side, I would pass this along to all of my team.  It will make them better clients and will underscore the importance of the communication "process" that must take place to achieve strategic success.
3843885
When I first started reading "Just a Minute" by Wess Stafford, I felt like I was reading an advertisement for Compassion International (an observation, not necessarily a bad thing) and a book by Paul "Now You Know the Rest of the Story" Harvey.

Although this book was not at all what I had expected, I did find it to be worthwhile.  It is a great reminder that little things we do or say (or don't do or say) can have a profound impact on our children, positively or negatively.  This book is not totally candy-coated.  It includes some absolutely heart-wrenching stories of abuse in with the positive feel-good ones.

The book also is a great reminder that the adults we encounter in our lives were once children who have been impacted by people during the childhood and life.

All in all... God gave us two ears and one mouth on purpose.  If we took the time to listen more, talk less, and to think before we did speak?  Wow.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.
380969
It's one of those books you can read in just a few hours but the impact of it can change your life.
4524891
Seth Godin writes timely, thought-provoking books that are quick reads.  I liked "Tribes" and I think Seth's thesis is spot on.  With the social networking technologies available today, more individuals can become leaders by developing tribes with shared interests and who have a voice in the tribe's conversation.  This is an important development that will affect businesses, governments and the social sector worldwide.  I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't benefit from  reading about it.

Some of the reviews posted have criticized the book as being lite.  I think that's unfair.  This book has a very important message that was well articulated in an approachable style and format.  Seth could have written a treatise but few people would have read it.  For Seth's target market of individuals who want important ideas delivered in a "cut to the chase " fashion, this book delivers.  I highly recommend it.
3491374
This book is a quick read that I could not put down.  I purchased the paper back which I perferred.  I would have gotten lost in all the links, if I had the ebook version.  After finishing the book, I emailed the author and asked where to get the links, and he replied:

"Off my web site: [...] -- where a pull down menu takes you through it chapter by chapter, link by link."

All in all, I highly recommend this book.  It will open up a dialogue with people around you, which may be a surprise to you.  I read the book last evening and have had a couple of "heated" discussions since then.  The point of opposition that I ran into was the view of "it's better not to know...". That was astonishing to me.  How can a problem ever be corrected if people refuse to identify it.  The book should be mandatory reading in schools!
1073221
We know our actions, what we do and say, can have an immediate effect, because we can see it. But what about the long-term effects? The short, excellent little book can give anyone the belief that their life can matter more than they think possible. It's worth more than it costs!
3040971
A well-written, quick read, told from a thought-provoking perspective.
4390739
In these info overloaded days, a book should not be any longer than is necessary, and this book is also mercifully short saving us and the author time and hits the point immediately. Much of the techniques stated in the book, you may already know, but to be put into a concentrated form and delivered with urgency and concision, just might get you to take action to tame your inbox this time. Two of the biggest benefits to me personally, so far, have been to set up VIP inboxes and to give up the unachievable goal of "Inbox Zero". I felt my life improve almost immediately afterwards and asked myself "Why didn't I do this sooner?" The parts about email etiquette didn't help me as much, but they are still excellent advice. This book is well worth the attention you give to it, and I think the writer has great respect for the busy modern reader. Recommended!
1469868
Amazing book! Short, yet super powerful.

It includes fascinating studies packed together with really concrete advice on how to act differently. It was very interesting to learn about the pratfall effect!

I have already applied one counterintuitive tip (asked a favor to my neighbor who used to hate us because we are so noisy with young kids around) and I must say this has radically changed our relationship. He opened up and we have worked on some easy solutions together. Nice :-)

I am also going to apply many approaches to parenting.
970715
This is an engaging, quick read which connects the reader to the "community" created by Fleischman.  The unlikely partner farmers in this book show the author's optimism and give promise that, with a common goal, a group of individuals CAN create one community.  Highly recommended... see Middle School Journal (Sept., 08 issue) for a highly useful article about how a school used this book as the basis for a schoolwide read.. complete with projects and outcomes.
3386491
I was fortunate to be given a copy of "Your Next 24 Hours: One Day of Kindness Can Change Everything" by Convoy for Hope co-founder Hal Donaldson (and co-authored by Kirk Noonan). Being very familiar with the Convoy for Hope ministry, after volunteering for their August 20, 2011, outreach in Rapid City, SD, I was excited to be given the chance to read, reflect and review "Your Next 24 Hours". Their outreach to our community helped 5,300+ people in the Black Hills Area, and likewise, I feel this book can be a catalyst for a more kind, more friendly and more generous America.

Throughout the book, I found myself highlighting key passages, which made me reflect and consider how I can be more kind and friendly to my fellow neighbors, friends, family and even complete strangers. I appreciated the statements and thoughts by Donaldson like:

* "Fulfillment doesn't come from exceeding others; it comes from elevating others." -- So true!

* "Think of your heart as a bank vault that's packed with the currency of love and kindness. When that currency is hoarded--it is wasted. But when it is invested in the lives of others it pays great dividends. With each disbursement, you give others strength, hope, and value."

* "Sometimes you have to follow your heart and err on the side of 'impulsive generosity.' Live by the adage, 'Seldom resist the impulse to do something kind'". -- What if we as Americans committed to doing this? Being "impulsively generous"!? Would be revolutionary.

* "If you don't show kindness to someone, it's possible NO ONE WILL. (emphasis mine). --an incredible thought to take captive and remember and always act upon. Could be the key passage of the book for me. Think about that. There are probably people who are seriously struggling through many storms and difficulties and despair and God may have you come across them to be kind, offer encouragement or just be friendly for moments in time. What will you do??

* "Once-friendly conversations have become partisan confrontations. It's likely that teh divisive tone will persist unless citizens like you take the steps to restore a sense of respect, cooperation, and decency to the corrosive world of politics." -- as someone who has worked in the political world for 11+ years, this is very true today. Think about this.

And one last excerpt:

* "When you choose to persevere in kindness, you unleash an unstoppable force for good. Occasional kindness has limited power. But relentless kindness has the power to restore, inspire, rescue and unite. 'Don't ever get tired of doing the right thing.' (2 Thess. 3:13)". -- Key wisdom to remember.

There are many more passages that I highlighted that I will continue to act upon and reflect on moving forward. This book is backed with scripture and contains many examples of those that have been kind or did good towards another person or persons. The chapters are short, but provide the reader with key stories and examples at the end of each chapter how you and I can be more kind.

This would be a wonderful book to read for anyone young or old. It would also be a good book for a youth group or small group to read and discuss and then ACT and work towards being more kind, caring, loving and generous with everything we have been blessed with by God.
4195049
The Influence of Man does a great job at painting a current picture of the major issues plaguing today's society including: Global warming, sexism, racism, and challenges the reader to make a difference by arming oneself with knowledge and taking action.

The book was concise, easy to read (took me 2 days) and definitely worth my time and money.

Highly recommend!
4182274
Even though this is a short book, it is packed with thought provoking information. I intend to read it more than once! It will help you to shift how you view yourself in the world. It will help you to listen better. It immediately had a positive effect on my relationships. It is a simple message, but one so many of us have forgotten. A must for every conscious person's bookshelf.
1307580
This book contains many real life examples of where seemingly insignificant or unrelated actions or events can result in a massive impact - tipping the situation for the good or bad.  The overall idea is that one needs to change your thinking to look for the small things you can realistically change when confronted with a seemingly unmanageable big challenge.  Put differently, how to get a high impact with little effort.

The real-life examples given relate to social studies, marketing, criminology and health care.  The reader can easily extrapolate these to other areas of interest.  One distraction is the New York criminology example which is contradicted in&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Freakonomics-A-Rogue-Economist-Explores-the-Hidden-Side-of-Everything-P-S/dp/0060731338/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.)</a>&nbsp;- i.e. the crime decrease in New York in the 1990's was not due to tipping-point efforts of the NY major and police chief in the 90's, but was due to relaxing US abortion legislation some 20 years earlier!

The writing style is formal and presented in a semi-academic format where all opinions of the author are immediately substantiated by independent research.  This format is an excellent match for the book's message as it gives the contents credibility and helps to provide a stimulating thought-provoking read.  A required read for anyone interested in making an impact in the world.
1504477
Simple and easy to follow yet deeply impacting. I believe this will be a book that warrants reading again and again.
856863
Those of us, who care about the health of the planet and the quality of life for our children and grandchildren, owe Larry Schweiger a deep debt of gratitude. Last Chance is a comprehensive, clear, concise, 200 page jewel of a book. Readers who are well educated on the looming dangers of climate change, as well as those who need to expand their knowledge, will appreciate this work of incredible scope presented in an eminently readable style. In addition, it offers readers practical recommendations on how to get involved and clearly presents the extensive, science based reasons supporting the urgency for action now.

 Last Chance is an easy yet critical read. We live in an interconnected world, and the many feedback loops illustrated in the book show us the existing evidence of an already changing world and fears about what is to come.  Without a doubt, it is time to seize the moment as the planet is teetering so precariously out of balance. I hope everyone will heed Mr. Schweiger's call to action in whatever way they can. Future generations are counting on us.
3737365
A great quick read that brings into focus, in real and relatable terms, how many different issues in our modern society are symptoms of the degeneration of community ties. Having felt alone and isolated recently this book has helped me better understand my own actions and the actions of others in my life in a new and forgiving way.

The writing is excellent, the authors tone and style is engaging and accessible. The book is a quick read and says a great deal in and efficient, entertaining and insightful way.

A recommended read for anyone trying to understand why we react to tramatic experiences the way we do.