Approachable and mind-blowingly effective
352823
I've heard about the concept of tapping for several years now, but Nick has brought it to the forefront of my thought.  He explains it better than anyone else I've read or seen, and now I am using it to rid myself of unwanted emotional issues. For example, bad dreams - who would have imagined how effective it is in emptying reruns of unpleasant dreams! This solution takes some time to read and study, but it is well worth it to improve your "way of being" in this world.
2242120
Max is one of the most knowledgable (and experiences) sales professionals I've ever met. He takes what might feel like a very complex subject and breaks it into part scalable science, part learnable art.

This book is packed with actual tactics you can implement within your organization right now - no matter the size. A great read I'll be sure to keep coming back to.
577754
This is an incredible book.  I say that for the following reasons: 1. the book is written in a clear and engaging style;  2. the author's points are organized in short, cohesive chapters;  3. her statements on behavior are supported by scientifically recognized theories;  4. each chapter includes a concise summary;  5. she gives solid examples;  6. she provides practical exercises for implementing her techniques;  7. she is living proof (I've seen her presentations, and she is a very charismatic speaker);  8. most importantly, her techniques are easy to implement, and they actually work.

Reading this book and incorporating Ms. Cabane's techniques my not turn you into a Cary Grant or a Bill Clinton, but it will definitely ramp up your charisma several levels.  This book is a keeper.
4506047
I LOVED this book! Firstly, they did a terrific job of summarising the quantum physics and personal development technology that underpins the tenets of Law of Attraction. They've made it easy to read, and easy to understand.

Actually, they made it FUN and inspiring to read about science.

Next, they've included a fantastic manifestation process that addresses the fundamental challenge of changing beliefs to support your vision (often glossed over by manifestation books). Though the process is not instant - they advocate repeating it three times per day for a month - it feels great.

The process is:

Meditate

Visualise with positive anchors

Affirmations

Subliminal reinforcement of your vision and affirmations (through things like vision boards).

Doesn't sound like anything new, but somehow it feels more powerful and engaging than other Law of Attraction books. I've started the process, I feel different, and I am magnetising clients to me like crazy. So - it's working already!

The book has a great VIBE about it. It resonates genuine sincerity and a desire to serve and help you expand your business vision. Oh yeah - the book is written explicitly for the business owner, or aspiring business owner.

The second half of the book focuses on basic marketing messages for business: know your ideal client get clear on what you offer, identify media platforms and strategies. But by the time you've walked through the exercises in the first half of the book this part feel fun and not so grinding as other marketing books.

And here's the best part of the book: there is NO over the top pitch about seminars, programs, or other offers that other books of this ilk ram at you. In fact, offers of any kind seem absent altogether. The book appears as a genuine, fair dinkum, sincere sharing of wisdom through experience and achievements, with the sole purpose of helping you to do the same.

And that makes me want to hire them more than any other book-as-lead-generator book that I have come across.

So well done gentleman - two thumbs up.

Zoe
249963
I am currently in the middle of a masters degree in religion, which involves taking in and processing an enormous amount of facts - something I have not been great at as my memory is horribly poor. Having tried note-taking (both written and audio), using mnemonics, and memory books, yet still being left with a disorganized jumble of data in my head, I decided to give mind maps a shot.

I chose this particular book by Ken Arthur as the contents looked thorough - and that they are. I certainly got more than I expected. There is loads in here, even topics I may never use such as teaching mind-mapping to children and using cognitive mapping (though you never know, it could come in handy). The sheer volume of material is staggering, and there is even a section about mind-mapping software for computers, tablets, and smartphones. I can recommend the iPad app 'iThought' - it wasn't the cheapest of those reviewed in this book, but it certainly helps keep things clean and well-organized (at least, more than my hand-written maps).

One bonus of reading such a comprehensive book is that it is full of extra ideas I had not even considered, such as using mind-maps to write out 'to do' lists, shopping lists and planning projects - I even used one to work out the process for building a climbing wall in my loft. There are also tips on becoming a better reader, writer, and learner.

However, the section on using mind-mapping to take notes on written material and lectures was the real gold for me - exactly what I needed. Though it took a little getting used to, mind-mapping turned out to be simple and intuitive, thanks to the careful instructions, and I am now able to condense whole sections of books and entire lectures into a single map that, although it is not exhaustive in content, brings to mind the things I have read and heard. It's like note-taking on steroids.

The opening sections on the why, what and how of mind-mapping lays a great foundation for whats to follow - all laid out in a clear, logical way. One might almost think the author had used a mind-map for his book...who knows?
388491
The Little Book of Do! is excellent! Kel was able to effectively incorporate motivational concepts and ideas with everyday Doable actions to create an outstanding and highly effective read, one that outlines clearly what to Do everyday to maximize productivity and life in general. Kel's suggested approach to a more fulfilling life is cleverly articulated, and is not only Doable, but is simultaneously simple, profound and achievable. Do! emphasises the inseparable real life connection between actually Doing and ultimately thriving. Wow!
4462269
This is a wonderful collection of ideas in a very effective format. Valuable people are busy. Asking many of the best to choose or propose a pet idea in a 2-page format---no questions asked---resulted in a sparkling collection having a very high worth-to-volume
ratio. My earmarks on the book are in effect a syllabus for a couple of years of self-improvement homework: expand, digest, integrate. I'm writing a book myself; almost on every page of Brockman's I found an idea, a quote, a tack, an example that will complement something I'm writing about.
4726858
I cannot recommend this book enough.  I loved its simplistic and practical approach to finding calm and mindfulness in the workplace, (something which has been sadly lacking in any of the other books I've read on the subject).  It was an easy and interesting read, keeping me engaged and giving me hope that I can definitely achieve a better, more productive and calm approach to work and life in general.  And on top of that it provides very practical and usable tools to be used in every day work environments.
I will definitely be re-reading this book and recommending it to my friends and colleagues.
1767696
If like me, your head is swimming with potentially lucrative e-business ideas (though it takes only one), yet you are unsure where to begin, this book is priceless. It is both thought-provoking and instructive: In under 300 pages Scott Fox has helped me transform my vague e-business idea into a very clear, workable plan (now well under way).

No fluff...the content is strong throughout the book: Practical, usable, nuts & bolts advice (as opposed to the common "pie-in-the-sky" vagaries). One would be hard-pressed to get more bang-for-their-buck than is offered here. Do yourself a favor, grab a copy, bypass the learning curve, and get on the fast-track to a successful e-business.
4690237
This book is such a powerful and effective resource, it's hard to do it justice in a review.  For almost every important life challenge or self improvement need, it has a tested to work and unusually effective stragegy to deal with it.  The author, a game designer, used a technique to overcome the severe and continous pain from a bad concussion from a car accident.  The she built a tool kit of as effective ways to not just get better; but SuperBetter.  I've tried many things to overcome hard to fix problems and deal with threats beyond my resources.  Few of them have worked or worked well.  I've been using her method since I got her book almost 4 weeks ago.  The results have been truly miraculous.  It's as if I have a sci fi kit now with lightning bolts in it!
3949461
This book is clever and very approachable (e.g., jargon-free style, props for the use of the word "poop," etc.). The author provides refreshingly experiential accounts of confusion. It is clear the premise is of a deeper origin, though the work is bereft of religious or spiritual plight. I was pleased with the result and will read it again...and again.

A good book for those comfortable with mindfulness, contemplative psychology, and similar areas. It took little time to *digest* and continues to yield rich fertilizer for future work.

Book #2 is also fantastic. Thank you!!!
2214636
This is a very approachable, friendly book that makes it possible for anyone, regardless of where they are starting from, to add more health and wellness to their life in easy to manage bite size pieces. By the end of a year, you'll have made additions and changes to your life painlessly, and you'll be well on the way to having a healthier happier body and mind. I would recommend this book to friends and clients who are feeling lost and overwhelmed by all the choices out there, and maybe have tried other methods and/or diets, and are ready to take matters into their own hands with the help of these kind people who will become your friends and most avid supporters. They really care and it shows. Easy to read, follow and most importantly implement, you can't go wrong with this one!
4263326
Several years ago, my company hired Fred Harris as a consultant to help create an extremely complex multi-channel digital receiver.  As it turned out, we could not have found a better candidate.  Fred doesn't just offer state-of-the-art processing techniques - many of which he himself has developed - his pragmatic focus on efficiency and real-world implementation is truly refreshing.

This superb book delivers that same approach and philosophy in a very readable, approachable text.  Unlike the vast majority of books in the field, which teach only the mathematics of signal processing, Fred teaches you what it really means, and how to make it work.  You'll learn extremely efficient signal processing techniques, but even more importantly, you'll gain a much deeper understanding of digital communications that will change the way you approach systems design.  From my perspective, this is quite simply the best book available for practitioners who are creating advanced digital communications systems.

Do you want to become a better engineer?  Buy it!
72059
Tom Kelley has produced a wonderful guide to fostering innovation and overcoming naysayers in "The Ten Faces of Innovation."  Kelley balances ideas and theories evenly with results-oriented thinking in a manner that should appeal to a wide range of readers.

If you are searching for a book that covers both the day-to-day realities and the concepts underlying innovation, look no further -- and read this book.  Rarely does a book address such a big and amorphous topic as "innovation" in such a precise and actionable manner.

Using a wide array of real-world and relevant case studies, Kelley offers a framework for both fostering innovation and addressing devil's advocates.  The writing is crisp, engaging, and clear.

I particularly appreciated Kelley's ever-present thought stimulating questions at the end of each section of the book.  Not only did these questions help generate thoughts, but Kelley puts his own ideas into practice -- the questions provide tangible examples of how to "think" about innovation and innovating.

I highly recommend this book.
2177433
Serendipity - and amazon's powerful search engine - led me to this excellent effort by Mark Levy.  I'm a big fan of Blue Man Group, and they quote a "Mark Levy" in their promotional material. That book - "Technicians of Ecstasy : Shamanism and the Modern Artist" (1993) - is quite probably written by a different Mark Levy.
But amazon's search engine popped 'Accidental Genius' to the top of the list.  I was intrigued, especially due to the more-frenetic-than-usual ravings of Tom Peters.  I bought it, and was not disappointed.  I suffer from many of the problems Levy describes.  Foremost, these seemingly great ideas in my head tend to get self-edited and written in an odd, foreign voice by the time they make it down onto paper.
Levy's 'private writing' technique is a usuable, practible method that can be employed straightaway.  Its power is to allow your voice on paper become the same as the voice you have in your head.  It's disarmingly simple, but powerful stuff.
Chockful of examples and exercises, you can start using Levy's techniques for immediate results.
3968384
If you are looking for a voluminous book on management theory that leads to exponential growth, this book is NOT for you! If you are looking for a book loaded with ideas, tips and several exercises to cause you to be introspective long enough to put together and execute a plan to change your career life for the better, then you've found it.

This book is so much more than the catchy phrases it uses to grab your attention. There's substance behind those headlines, and you won't be disappointed. I've gathered so many ideas and concepts, and it's fun to put many of these into practice. One idea like "be comfortable letting people down," is excellent. Many of us have become successful because we are good at making so many other executives happy. The old saying "what got you here won't get you to the next level" comes to mind. You have to be thoughtfully ruthless with your time and be comfortable letting some people down for the greater good. This is about being thoughtful about your purpose and ruthless in managing your time and resources to achieve your purpose.

A few other ideas that resonated with me include, "outsourcing non core activity." Eliminate administrative and logistical planning overhead that adds little to no value to your ultimate purpose. The "cost of doing nothing" was an eye opener. Now I spend more time focused on the things that will ultimately help me achieve my higher goals and purpose by thinking about the cost of procrastination, or worse yet, focusing on non-core activities. Becoming "sensibly selfish" has helped me to remember that it is not only okay to take care of yourself, it's mandatory. Nobody is going to take care of you as well as you can.

"Be brilliant about sharing your brilliance," and going from "humble to shameless" are related. Being humble is nice, but clearly articulating how your clients, customers and organization will benefit from your contribution will make more of a difference. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have someone say "He did a good job helping us exceed our goals," than say, "gosh, he's a nice guy." The former will help you win more business. There's strength in the "power of no." I've learned how to apply this one significantly in the last 3 months, and it is both energizing powerful.

The sections on email and calendar management are particularly useful. Reading this caused me to look at my own email practices and I've discovered that these have become like a ball and chain! Cut the chain today but implementing Val's suggested practices. Email is a means to an end, and is not the end in of itself. Make it work for you instead of you becoming a slave to it. Now I typically only handle email 3x a day, sometimes less. I don't send thank you emails, and I use the phone more. The speed at which I am now able to move is exponentially faster than before this book. In my calendar, I now schedule my key activities. I schedule priority work items, and make this the priority for each day. In fact, I have themes for each half day from working on intellectual property to blogging, to project work, networking and client contact.  I schedule specific times of the day to catch up on emails and phone calls. My calendar is far more disciplined, I find that I am much more productive, and in the process I am able to weed out a great deal of non-value added activity.

Finally, I'll talk about tolerating mediocrity. I've found that I have more capacity for higher quality work time which in turn creates a set-up where I accept mediocrity much less. I am many times more likely to critically evaluate a piece of work as a result of a higher focus on my own time management and my own product delivery.

Read this book. Today. The apply the principles. Today. You won't be sorry.
3577481
I wish this book had been available when I was young.

It's clear and simple.  And, more important, it's easy to practice.

Anyone who has attempted NLP will find this material a liberating breath of fresh air.

No complicated, convoluted language patterns.  No awkward mirroring.

Just normal, everyday behavior that produces incredible results.

His stories of how the FBI both recruited and broke foreign spies using these simple techniques really drives the point home.

Want to be more persuasive in your life yet also 100% natural?  Then read this book.