Ellerton is Brilliant, Concise, Precise, Lucid, and Comprehensive
922349
Ellerton is Brilliant, Concise, Precise, Lucid, and Comprehensive.  This is an in-depth explanation of, journey through, and discovery of NLP in its most clear and most comprehensively engaging representation.  By far the most comprehensive and thorough and easy-to-understand book on NLP.  I'm still reading it (plan to read it cover to cover) and will constantly use it for reference.
4806278
CONFIDENCE MEN is an elegantly written and convincing analysis of the challenges of Obama's daunting first two years in the Oval Office.  Suskind is an undeniably brilliant writer, and his research is exhaustive and compelling. The larger-than-life personalities surrounding Obama come alive in this work - Summers, Orszag, Geithner, Emanuel, Romer and (the epic/heroic) Volcker and (the man-behind-the-scenes) Pete Rouse.

This book is admirable on many levels.  Suskind was given Woodward-like inside access to the players and conducted hundreds of interviews - nearly a thousand hours' worth.  Upon finishing the book, one gets a sense that Suskind is a thorough and driven reporter.  This likely is the most comprehensive account of Obama's potential and his bitterly-disappointing first two years as president.

There are some issues I had with the book.  1) the ambitious scope of Suskind's book causes it to seem, at times, disjointed and unfocused. A leaner, faster-reading version would have been preferable.  2) the author makes no mention of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan and Guantanamo - whatsoever! - and though Suskind wanted to stay focused on the financial and health care crises, his nothing-to-see-here approach to this challenge of the young president is a striking omission;  3) occasionally, it seems that Suskind had his sacred cows in the narrative (i.e., seemingly the ones who gave him full access such as Orszag, Volcker, Romer, and Axelrod), while he utterly eviscerated "The Brilliant Larry Summers"(given the mainstream press' constant description of Summers as "brilliant," you would've thought he had legally changed his name as such).

This is sometimes a challenging read because it is so comprehensive in scope, and though I thought Suskind charitable view of Obama at the outset of the book began to verge on sycophancy, at the end of it all, he had a clear-eyed vision of the president's failings.  Obama is humble: he blames himself for the missed opportunity to redefine history.

Suskind is a terrific stylist and he has a superb ear for dialogue, a unique ability to conjure up a picturesque metaphor.  His ambitious approach to the complexities of this frenetic period of time in America occasionally finds him a bit over his skis with a meandering narrative.  It's a minor quibble overall; Ron Suskind has created what seems to me is the consummate account of the internecine squabbles inside the White House that derailed the first two years of the Obama presidency, and left a nation dejected by the enormity of this missed opportunity to "change the arc of history."

Disclosure: I voted for Obama in 2008.
733683
Turning Numbers Into Knowledge deals with the fundamentals of analysis, research, and problem solving, not with their fashionable technical adornments.  It is a tremendous resource for anyone wanting to critically review anything from costly, technical studies to everyday rhetorical argument.
The adjectives that came to my mind as I read Turning Numbers Into Knowledge were, "Engaging, comprehensive, down-to-Earth, well-researched, well-written, well-planned, well-documented, creative, helpful, entertaining, filled with useful resource material, user-friendly, personal, witty, and wise."
Whereas I had anticipated a ponderous technical tract, Turning Numbers Into Knowledge entertainingly deals with problem solving and analysis in its broadest context, including the often-ignored yet critical human elements.  Because of its breadth, I can scarcely think of any scientist, social scientist, student, researcher, writer, or policy analyst who could not benefit from this book.  Its lessons are brought home with cleverly chosen anecdotes and lucid examples.  The reader is rewarded frequently with wonderful quotations and great cartoons.
What Koomey says about use of the Internet, web sites, and information dissemination over the Internet also has valuable implications for modern administrators, project managers, and executive directors whose organizational management responsibilities increasingly include management and dissemination of information.
As with other classics, I expect Turning Numbers Into Knowledge to be in print for a long time and would not be surprised to see students a generation from now relying on a future edition.  Jon Koomey is a hard worker, clear thinker, and has produced an extraordinarily useful book that will help the practitioners of science, research, policy analysis, and journalism in the pursuit of truth.
4071531
Tremendous breadth and perspective on the major political dilemmas of our time from a wise scholar of the academy and citizen of the world. Everyone from experts to laypersons can enjoy, understand, and gain from Dahl's  insights and characterizations regarding the fundamental political dilemmas  of our time. Rarely, does such a combination of  scholarly erudition and  simple prose ever come along. I am greatful to Robert Dahl for contributing  and elevating political discourse here and around the world with this book.  Please read it if you are remotely interested in the politics of any  country and the politics of the world. You can probably read it in one long  sitting.
On another level, this book will forever remain the textual  staple of the "Introduction to Comparative Government Courses" I  teach.
This review does not mean that I agree with Dahl on all his  positions it just means that I think his book is important.
This book is  a provocative, informative, prudent, understated, and insightful  explanation of the world's post-Soviet political era. (In this respect,  Dahl's book is much better than Francis Fukuyama's ridiculously overstated,  criminially impractical, triumphantly-and-arrogantly-toned treatise on  "the end of the history."  And guess what? Dahl's book is much  shorter.)
934873
This is an excellently written book, liberating and highly informative. The snobs will be put off by the Teach Yourself title, but don't be fooled: the author thoroughly knows his stuff. Unlike so many acolytes of postmodernism his approach is not uncritical, yet he has managed to separate the wheat from the chaff, unfailingly identifying the main points of value of the various postmodernist thinkers in clear, compact and easy to understand language. This is particularly important, as the original texts of some of the postmodernists can be rather long-winded and obscure.

Where necessary the author adds points of criticism immediately following the basic discussion, which helps to improve one's understanding. Clear, concrete examples from everyday life illustrate each point, so as to put the issue in perspective.

Before reading this book I was somewhat sceptical toward postmodernism, having been exposed to so much quasi-intellectual drivel and posturing. Postmodernism seemed to be a fashionably destructive form of nihilism and relativism cloaked in obscure and pretentious terminology. This book makes it clear that though some aspects of postmodernism may be doubtful, much of it is of value, particularly with regard to globalisation.

My only regret is that no mention is being made of the "Sokal Hoax" of 1996 when the physicist Alan Sokal managed to get his deliberately nonsensical article "Transgressing the boundaries: towards a transformative hermeneutics of quantum gravity" published in the postmodernist journal Social Text - much to the embarrassment of many postmodernist academics. The Sokal Hoax was followed by a number of books sharply criticising some postmodernists' views on science. Indeed PM's relationship with science, and the PM tendency to inspire quasi-intellectual articles may be its weakest links. Though Glenn Ward's book includes a list of recommended websites, it unfortunately does not contain Andrew Bulhak's highly entertaining The Postmodernism Generator. This website continuously generates completely meaningless postmodernist articles, but the forgeries are so brilliant that you could be fooled if you did not know better.

Criticism of PM should of course not blind one to its merits. If you have heard much about postmodernism, but could never figure out what it's all about and if you don't want to spend too much time in finding out, this wonderful, concise introduction is for you.
4712814
This is an incredible book. Provan is a senior scholar of superb reputation.  He is extremely erudite and well-read, and an excellent thinker and writer. The book is, in the main, an OT Theology book, but don't let that deter you--it is unlike anything else out there. As he treats 10 major theological questions, he roots his answers in the book of Genesis, and in the process of explaining the OT biblical faith, contrasts it to the ancient Near Eastern religions, to developments in western theology (e.g., Plato, Stoics, but also Augustine), to the beliefs of Eastern thought (so, great for comparative religion, especially to refute those who say all religions are basically alike), and to the claims of the New Atheists as they distort biblical religion. After he finishes dealing with the issues in OT context, he then discusses each of his 10 questions with relation to the advances through NT and Jesus.

He sees both Gen 1 and Gen 2 very much the same as I do: functions, order, cosmic sacred space He also makes very clear and sensible statements about the relationship of Faith and Science.

He defends core orthodoxy, is a superb exegete and theologian, adopts without hesitation an evolutionary framework, soundly refutes the New Atheists, and takes a stand against the amalgamation of religious truththereby addressing many contemporary issues.

This book is worth your time and will pay untold dividends to the careful reader.
3860794
Frustrated with common explanations of biblical themes being reduced to powerless moral metaphors? Ready for the dots to be connected in a powerful, informative, and pragmatic method? Then Heaven on Earth is the next book for you to read.

Heaven on Earth strikes the balance between scholarly exploration and pragmatic actuation you would hope to find in any book on a Christian's bookshelf - however rare that may be to find. Striking that balance on such a central theme as the Kingdom is sure to make for a timeless resource for generations of Christians. Streett shines a light on the Kingdom, as explained in Scripture, in such a clear and concise method it feels as if the reader has drawn the conclusion apart from the author and just before the author makes the same point. Reading this book is more like having a conversation than rote reading.

Apart from the aesthetic fluidity of the writing, the content of the book highlights how a proper understanding of the Kingdom of God leaves no aspect of one's worldview untouched. I found this explanation personally refreshing as it relieved so many various, and seemingly unrelated, frustrations I've developed over the years both within the church and within mainstream Christian thought.

Heaven on Earth has quickly earned a place within the go-to books on my shelf. I cannot recommend this book more highly for both the young believer just starting out and for the seasoned veteran needing a refresher on the passion he or she once held. If the central theme of Jesus' ministry is that the "Kingdom is at hand", it would be wise to know what exactly is at hand and how that affects everything. From my personal desires to the role of relationships to the mission of the Church to death itself - the Kingdom leaves nothing untouched. To live for the King, one must have a thought on His Kingdom.
3493226
Max-E Marketing is a book that I read in an evening, put to work in a day, and will be absorbing for some time to come while evaluating and implementing the seven imperatives in my own business environment.  I found the pairing of co-authors Stan Rapp and Chuck Martin to be a master stroke.  The combined power of their marketing savvy, e-business vision, and journalistic discipline yields a clarity of thought and usefulness of principle that should help any business executive who is determined to outsmart the competition in the Net Economy.  But what really sets this book apart is the rich mix of real-world examples.  They represent a range of companies and industries so broad that every reader will find a way to relate to every major point.  The seven imperatives each reflect straightforward click-and-mortar business strategy, yet they are presented here as marketing strategy.  Lest a reader miss the point of that, the authors deliver the message one more time in imperative number seven:  "Make business responsible for marketing and marketing responsible for business."
626101
Fine writes in a way that brilliantly organizes and explains an issue of extreme complexity and even greater importance. She argues in a way that even the most adamant sexist can't help but agree with. Combine the two and the result is a book that is both delightful to read and monumentally impactful for the future of human society. For your sake and my own, please read it.
3024904
Part how-to manual, part self-help book, and part-companion to the larger website DebtCleanse.com, Jorge P. Newberys Debt Cleanse: How to Settle Your Unaffordable Debts for Pennies on the Dollar (And Not Pay Some at All) is a definitive, exhaustive guide with the goal of forever ridding the reader from the crippling debt that so unfortunately saddles millions of Americans.

Newbery begins with a set if staggering statistics. Literally millions of Americans are burdened with various forms of debt. Some of this debt is so massive that is it often feels to the victims that they (or even their progeny) will never be rid of it. Newbery himself once suffered from that kind of debtors fear. As he so candidly admits, at one point in his career as a businessman, he owed a debt amounting to over twenty-six million dollars. But today he is relatively debt-free. Sound impossible? Newberys guide illuminates step-by-step how he was able to emerge from that crippling figure by paying only a miniscule fraction of it. He further provides hundreds of exacting tips, tools, and tactics to aid any person who finds him or herself in debt to eventually walk away debt-free after only paying a very small portion of the overall cost.

After an introductory chapter in which Newbery provides the reader with his background and a brief introduction to the vision behind Debt Cleanse and its accompanying website, the following section goes on to provide an extensive list of vocabulary words that any reader looking to get rid of his or her debt would do well to memorize.

The third chapter elucidates the steps needed to get started debt cleansing. Some of these steps, especially on first read, may seem radical, even downright illicit, but could ultimately prove immensely useful to one looking to finally emerge from their debt. Here Newbery explicates the eight essential principles to debt cleansing that appear constantly in the book, including the stopping payment of debt, the ignoring of any creditors (even upon threat of arrest), the necessity of disputing debts, and the welcoming, and instigating, of lawsuits. Other controversial, yet understandable and perhaps even necessary, notions that Newbery proposes here include not caring about ones credit score, the necessity of having a lawyer you trust on retainer, and the advisability of never filing for bankruptcy.

The subsequent dozen-or so chapters each painstakingly and eruditely guide the reader through the steps necessary to eliminate many of the most common debts plaguing Americans today, include mortgage payments, car loans, student loans, medical bills, and credit card loans. Each chapter not only thoroughly explains the processes and steps that need to be undertaken in order to cleanse the reader of that form of loan, but additionally help the reader to understand the intricacies and the lingo associated with that type of loan. The hundred-plus page appendices at the conclusion of the book, entitled Action Tools, provide readers with hundreds of necessary forms, questions, and checklists needed to cleanse debt.

While Debt Cleanse will be too radical an approach to financial stability for more conservative readers, for those who wish to follow in Newberys footsteps, it serves an indispensable guide and printed companion to DebtCleanse.com. If Newbery succeeds, it may even help engender the debt revolution that he desires.
2223414
Dillow has written what is without a doubt my favorite comprehensive systematic theology.  Dillow manages to remain careful and thorough with the biblical text while the whole time remaining worshipful and spiritually edifying throughout the work.  He leaves no theological stone un-turned, addressing arguments from opposing scholars across the theological spectrum, yet never loses his brotherly tone and encouraging tone.

The only substantial disagreement that I had with what Dillow presents in the book has to do with how much potential reward a believer might forfeit
 when he stands before the Lord at the Bema seat judgment. I'm a bit harsher in that I believe there is the threat of full kingdom exclusion during the course of the millennium, while Dillow only sees the possibility of "disinheritance," meaning loss of the reigning position.  The difference materializes most clearly in our interpretations of Matthew 5:20.  Despite this disagreement, I still give Dillow's work the full 5 stars.  Dillow presents his view thoughtfully, and addresses mine (and others') graciously.  It should be expected with any work this size that there will be points of disagreement for the reader.  But even in places you may not agree with his conclusions, you can never deny his integrity in presenting good-faith arguments, nor his fairness when discussing the views of others with whom he disagrees.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  It is not only a must-have for the library of any serious student of the Bible, whether within or without the Free Grace movement, but it also stands as a glorious example of how a scholarly and technical work be wonderfully gracious and edifying to the reader.

For anyone interested in a further study of the "kindom" discussion mentioned earlier, I go into detail in my own commentary on the Sermon on the Mount:

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Theirs-is-the-Kingdom-An-Exposition-of-the-Sermon-on-the-Mount/dp/1545298483/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Theirs is the Kingdom: An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount</a>
944939
This is a concise, intelligent piece of work written in three clearly defined segments; the most intensive being the first part which deals directly with the art of writing in the real world. There is then a short,  centrally located segment which is about networking that makes plain good  sense look quite simply like a brilliant idea.  The Third and last  section deals in no uncertain terms with the Business of Publishing, and  make no mistake, the guy who wrote it has more than 40 years experience in  the field, so each page he presents to us is not only useful, it's a no  fooling around, fact-filled leaf within a series of only hundred and some  business oriented pages that complete this valuable text.  The  book then is punctuated with an ending comprised of short, comprehensively  helpful lists.  Do yourself a favor and don't miss it.
3672590
As an American who lived in London and still considers it a home away from home, I was looking forward to receiving this book. I began reading Christine Corton's pages as soon the package arrived and immediately I was engrossed. Who would have thought that London fog could be the basis for a thrilling journey through history, literature, art, politics, and science?  "London Fog: The Biography" is a panoramic cultural history, comprehensively researched and refreshingly free of the trappings of academic writing.  The prose here is lucid and delightful. True to biography, Corton's masterwork begins with the birth of London Fog and ends with (spoiler alert!) "The Last Gasp" and its welcomed demise.  The story of London town's famous and famously misunderstood fog is more than a fascinating narrative of one of civilization's great urban legends; it is also an alarming cautionary tale.  The skies above Beijing, Mexico City, Cairo, New Delhi, and so many other metropolises are obfuscated by thick brown smog, and the troubling question remains: will the air in those cities ever recover, and if not, what is the fate of their citizens?  A brilliant book indeed.
1357005
Lakoff and the Institute take their reader through just about every major political debate, explaining how deep framing affects surface framing on each and how both progressive and conservative frames understand the deeper issues behind the policy debates - issues like self-reliance, common good and the morality of property ownership. They then show how to frame progressive arguments in ways that conservatives and biconceptuals (moderates) can easily access and in ways that they can relate to and agree with, while still remaining authentically progressive. He then makes one final point - that framing has to be repeated, time and again and across the board, until it becomes as pervasive and automatic as the conservative narrative has been, and then more so.

In 156 easily accessible pages, Lakoff sets the standard upon which all future discussion of the deep cognitive nature of political debate - the meta-politics - will be based. As such, I heartily recommend that you go buy this book. It is a must read.
3035254
Bill Rapp has an established track record of writing clearly and cogently for his readers.  He is one of the most perceptive international economists in the business and writes in an accessible style that's highly appropriate for both professional executives and the general reader alike.
"Information Technology Strategies" is based on his extensive background research on successful strategies used by leading multinational corporations, a market he knows extremely well.  This book would be optimal reading for American executives who may be struggling with strategic questions regarding the appropriate positioning of their companies in a highly volatile and extremely competitive global market, but it's also recommended for the general reader who wants to be well informed and up to date.  Bound to please.
4805393
Dr. Patrick Walsh and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins are widely recognized as the medical profession's leading experts on prostate cancer.  The Second Edition of this classic guide is up-to-date, authoritative, and comprehensive.  It contains everything you want to know about prostate cancer, from prevention through prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.  All this information is remarkably well organized and accessible.  The book contains twelve chapters with titles like, "Do I Have Prostate Cancer?" and "What Are My Options?".  Each chapter begins with a short table of contents and a one or two-page summary (kind of like those "Cliffs Notes" you used in high school).  The book also includes a full golssary and a detailed index.

If you have had a needle biopsy and have been diagnosed with prostate cancer the Partin Tables and Han Tables in Chapter Six will permit you to determine, within specified statistical limits, the extent of your cancer and the likelyhood of a cure.  For the majority of men this information will be good news.  The Partin and Han Tables alone are worth more than the modest price of the book.

Despite the technical nature of the subject matter, the book is easy to read.  Dr. Walsh's co-author, Janet Farrar Worthington, is a gifted writer.  The analogies she uses to put medical terminology into lay terms are absolutely delightful.  There is nothing funny about prostate cancer--my Dad and my grandfather both died of the disease.  However, I found myself chuckling more than once as I read this wonderful book.  Thanks Dr. Walsh; thanks Janet.
3338542
It doesn't take long to find the perfect candidate for this book, such as those small, fly-by-night development teams, which consider a project done the moment everything an organization requires becomes possible, whether or not difficulty and innefficiency exists in accomplishing those tasks.

Data Fluency clearly presents what steps should be taken to maximize not only the efficiency, but also the functionality of a well-tuned system of data to consumer information processing.

The chapters are structured as fluently as its subject matter, with concise writing, beautiful illustrations, and meaningful examples from which to compare.

I love this book, as would most anyone who has spent several minutes logging their time at work, countless hours doing the work a computer was built to do having used the information it gave you, or toiled with an interface that is scattered among several tiers of unnecessary complexity. This is a brilliantly assembled book, and my only concern would be whether or not thise who need it the most would actually put it to use, because most of the systems that need it, seem to have been designed by people who do not much care about their work in the first place.