A well-written and exhaustively researched biography of a man whose rise and fall made great impacts on two distant communities: Moltonborough, NH and Jamaica Plain, MA. Jamaica Plain was the location of the immense shoe factory Plant built in 1896 (burned in 1976), and Moltonborough remains the location of his 6,000 acre estate "Lucknow" (more commonly known as "the Castle in the Clouds").

I recently re-read this brilliant book before proceeding to Kouzes and Posner's more recently published Encouraging the Heart. I highly recommend both and suggest that they be read in the order in which they were written. Those of us who presume to review books such as this one can merely indicate their breadth and depth of substance as well as their stimulation of thought about the material presented. For example, Kouzes and Posner identify what they call "five leadership practices common to successful leaders" and then suggest ten "behavioral commitments" among those leaders studied. Here they are:

Practice: Challenge the process
Commitments: (1) Search for opportunities and (2) Experiment and take risks

Practice: Inspire a shared vision
Commitments: (3) Envision the future and (4) Enlist others

Practice: Enable others to act
Commitments: (5) Foster collaboration and (6) Strengthen others

Practice: Model the way to the desired objectives
Commitments: (7) Set the example and (8) Plan small wins

Practice: Encourage the heart of everyone involved
Commitments: (9) Recognize individual contribution and (10) Celebrate accomplishments

Those who conduct "360 Feedback" programs could do much worse than to base evaluations on criteria suggested by these practices and commitments. They provide the thematic infrastructure of the material which Kouzes and Posner present within seven Parts. The first introduces key concepts and terms: "Knowing What Leadership Is Really All About." Each of Parts Two-Six is devoted to one of the five Practices. Kouzes and Posner conclude with Part Seven, "The Beginning of Leadership', followed by two appendices which enable the reader to complete "The Personal Best Questionnaire" before reviewing "The Leadership Practices Inventory."

There are dozens of outstanding books on leadership and this is one of the best. I am especially impressed by the balance Kouzes and Posner maintain throughout between theory and practice. More specifically, they introduce and explain various core concepts and then draw upon real-world situations to illustrate those concepts. Obviously, "Encouraging the Heart" (Part Six) introduces ideas which Pouzes and Posner develop in much greater depth in a sequel volume which bears the same name. They conclude this book as follows: "We have said that leaders take us to places we have never been before. But there are no freeways to the future, no paved highways to unknown, unexplored destinations. There is only wilderness. If you are to step into the unknown, the place to begin is with the exploration of the inner territory." Those who agree (as do I) with these final remarks are urged to check out David Maister's Practice What You Preach, Tim Sanders' Love Is the Killer App, David Whyte's The Heart Aroused, and Larry Davis' Pioneering Organizations.

This is an outstanding book and should be required reading for anyone who manages people or who is getting started in their career and will manage in the future. In addition to providing terrific insights into the art and science of leadership, the book serves as an excellent roadmap for those who want to improve their leadership skills and that of their management team. In addition to their extensive research and powerful discussions on what makes great leaders, the book is an absolute delight to read. Kouzes and Posner's command of the language and easy readability, along with their very relevant case studies and analyses, can help all of us improve our leadership skills and develop more effective organizations.

I just finished this book and wanted to pass on my opinion while the iron is hot and before I go on to another book on leadership. "The Leadership Challenge" is an outline of the practical basics of what has come to be called "leadership". While I think the authors did a fine job of imparting the messages for which the book was intended, they did not (like all the other how-to books on leadership) get their arms around understanding just exactly what leadership actually is. The terms "leader" and "leadership" have come to be slippery and lightly used in our society. But, in all honesty, I think that dealing with understanding leadership is slightly beyond the purposes for which this book was intended, and, for its intended purposes, I highly recommend this book.
(I also recommend "West Point: Character Leadership.." by Remick, if you want to get your arms around what "leadership" is)

This fable seems like a furry lover's dream - beautiful illustrations depicting two anthropomorphic tribesmen and their adventures in coming of age. However, when you read the text, it hits you: these characters are not furries at all. They are MEN with the names of animals. The story isn't bad, it's well written and inspirational, and the illustrations are worth a purchase for those interested in furry art. However, if you're interested in a good furry story, as opposed to a good story about men, look elsewhere as you won't get one, despite the illustrations. A major letdown for fans of the talking animal genre.

I have given more copies of Crow and Weasel away than any other book in recent years. It is the most beautiful portrait of male friendship available in any genre for children or adults. I most often give copies to young men facing some important transition in their own lives...graduation from high school or college when they too will be asked to go beyond what is familiar, and in doing so, will learn more about themselves. This is a story to share with those you love again and again. As Lopez says, "If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed..." This is just such a story.

...and a crow, and many other insightful characters within "Crow and Weasel" have stayed with me since I first read it almost 10 years ago. The story itself is vibrant, almost to the point of actual narrative. Beautiful landscapes and dialogue throughout lend themselves to the imagination; I feel very much a part of what I'm reading-a true escape. And I like that it teaches me by surprise. Everytime I finish this book, I find that my joy in diversity, my desire to be kind, and my reverence for the natural world have grown. Tom Pohrt's illustrations are each works of art, and complement the story perfectly. I wish they were available as prints. Share this book with the young, and then go share it with everybody else.

This is an excelent textbook about software projects estimation. The only problem with the book is the lack of more examples to learn the techniques discussed.

"You can't control what you can't measure", is how DeMarco opens this seminal work in software project management, and the primary focus of this book is how to develop an effective strategy for measuring software development costs and thus build a reliable means of estimating the cost of future projects. Most of this discussion is, in my opinion, too dated to be of direct use (DeMarco suggests, for example, that counting the now obsolete metric "frequency of compiles" as an indicator of software stability). But the true genius of this work lies in the periphery of his discussion--particularly insightful comments into what not to do when managing software development. Useful insights, lucid prose, and DeMarco's engaging wit keeps this book on the top of the stack on my desk, and I expect to revisit it often.

~The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a fascinating and adventurous book about a boy named Tom Sawyer. He has a major crush on a girl called Becky Thacker. In this book, Tom goes to an island with two of his friends, attends their own funeral, and look for treasure! Tom sees Injun Joe a killer with treasure. He wants it, but his only clue where Injun Joe hid it is that it has something to do with number 2. Tom is now lost in a cave all alone with Becky. Can he find his way out of the cave and~~ the way to the treasure? I agree with Mark Twain's decisions and ideas. I believe that I would be doing the same thing if I were in his position. His decisions are able to happen; yet The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is such a good book. I would recommend this book to people who like adventurous books, and likes classics. It leaves you at so many cliffhangers that you can help but read all of it at once, for the people who like cliffhangers.~

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of the best books I have ever read. The language,the thinking,the adventures-all of it was just incredible and enjoyable. The only thing this book needs is more pages! Mark Twain's skill in writing has created a book that all ages should read (or have it read to).Mark Twain reactivates the life and actions of a boy in the mid-1800's,and showed me that kids should be who they are- not what they will be. This is a classic for every generation to read and enjoy.

Mark Twain's,The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, tells about a boy loving and living his life to the fullest. Tom Sawyer is the kid that the world has seemed to forgotten. He is the kid who always get in trouble but continues to have fun with life. In this book, Tom does everything from being engaged, to watching his own funeral, to witnessing a [death] and finding treasure. Twain's creative character finds fun everywhere in his little town in Missouri, as do his friends. The storyline is basic, but it is a piece of the past that everyone should hold on to.

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I learned mainly two things. The first thing I learned was that you can make life fun with just about anything if you use your imagination. Life is too short and precious to be wasted. I also learned that where you least expect it [help or protection], you might just get it. This book was just amazing-filled with unique characters, exciting events, and how a town can pull together to help those in need.

Set on the 19th century river banks of Mark's Twain hometown, the Adventures of Tom Sawyer takes you on the raft ride of your life. It is starts by a synopsis of the character of Tom and his friends, by cataloging a few of the queer things that they involved themselves in. Nonetheless as the story unfolds it deepens into a more serious nature. Tom and his friend Huck witness a murder. Moff Potter the town drunk, is accused of the crime and only Tom and Huck can save him. However, they fear that the real killer Injun Joe,will exact his vengeance on them. The story ends in the last scene with a dark rendition of finalty in the cave with wild Injun Joe. Tom and Huck end up rich with more than a dollar a day for the rest of their life.. " More than a body can handle".. This is a truly a remarkable book and a must for every young boy. It is filled with laughter, suspense and cheer for those of all ages and gender..But don't think it ends there.. Just wait till you read the adventures of Huck Finn!

Very thorough and well written commentary on the social, economic and political situation in Honduras. It delves into the role of the US and the "new global order" in shaping present day Honduran society.

The expanded combat and construction rules add a new dimension to the Deadlands universe, and can be used anytime to liven up a long day of driving across the wasted west. Modify old vehicles with a whole slew o' new guns, mods and such, or build yer own mean machine, then take to the road!

This is a good history of the silicon valley giant Sun Microsystems. The material is of course somewhat dated now, but nonetheless provides the read with a good background.

If you want to know something about Sun, pickup a copy.

I have read all seven of Robbins' other novels, and loved them all, in varying degrees. In fact, I've re-read most of them multiple times! Unfortunately, I have yet to plow my way through HAiFP. I've started it several times, and just haven't been able to force myself to finish it. If this is your first Robbins' novel you might actually enjoy it...if you've read everything else, give it a try...if there are others you haven't read yet, leave this one for last.

I wonder if Tom Robbins holds his readers in utter contempt. First there is the gimmicky use of second person narrative which adds nothing whatsoever to this book, which is already mostly devoid of any serious content. If Robbins is trying to thumb his nose at literary convention, his method of doing so fail utterly.

Not that this book is meant to be taken seriously. Obviously this is not the case. However, hidden among the various hilarities (and the book IS funny, after all) are hints of subtleties, things left unsaid, real social commentary. But just hints, and Robbins never bothers to flesh them out. And most of those turn out to be merely bawdy jokes anyway. It seems as if Robbins is either teasing his readers or perhaps doesn't quite know what it is he's trying to say.

If you're merely looking for a light, fun read, look no further. But if you expect anything else you will be disappointed.

It's practically impossible to review a Tom Robbins novel considering that just reciting the plot line in no way describes what actually goes on in the story (sorta like an existential Seinfeld episode). That's what makes it so exciting- you never know what will make you laugh on the next page or what will make you think about life in a totally different way in the next chapter. This is my favorite of all of TR's books (and he's my favorite author so I guess that makes it the best book ever!). I have read it ATLEAST 10 times and buy it for gifts. I'd say this is a good starting place if you are not familiar with TR. It's a little more cautious than some of the others. Of course, being so totally UNcautious is exactly why TR has so many loyal fans. Anyway, HIGH praises for this book. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.