This 'easy to read' book is great! It should be the bible for SME companies and entrepreneurs who want to excel in real-life business. It's full of great insights and a 'must have' for anybody who cares about practical business management.

I'm not surprised why this book have 5 stars...it deserves 10.

This book not only explains which are the key success drivers for an organization to become great, but also lets us know what to do in order to achieve results on each of these drivers. I work in the Planning division of a major insurance company...I have read lots of stuff about strategic planning, and I find the content of this book to be the one that captures the essence of successful planning.

According to the authors, any person involved in leading or transforming a business, should focus on 5 dimensions. In order to become truly successful, you should achieve a great performance on each dimension.These dimensions are:

1. Leadership Style 2. Vision, values and corporate culture 3. Strategy 4. Innovation 5. Tactical Excellence

There is a chapter for each point which are full of practical examples and stories about successes and failures.

I also recommend "Built to Last", from the same author.

I have read a number of books on strategic planning. They all generally follow a very similar approach. However, Jim Collins has done a masterful job putting the theory into a format that is easily understood and easily applied to solve real problems. I initially used the book to lead the strategic planning process for the technical support department of a major software company. The results were astounding. I have since used the book to help many other organizations and have found the book equally appropriate for each engagement. Using the concepts in this book will dramatically help your organization.

This was a really good book. When I broke up with my boyfriend, I told him he was "emotionally unavailable". I didn't know there was ACTUALLY a book about it. Anyhow, while I read it, I realized that I was just as emotionally unavailable as he was. I realized I had poor communication skills and was constantly "blaming" him. Anyhow, it's a great book at not only looking at your partner, but looking at yourself to see what kind of self-growth changes need to be made.

Dr Bryn Collins has written a marvellous book about recognising patterns and styles of people who are emotionally unavailable. She writes a very descriptive picture at the start about what it really is like to be with an emotionally unavailable person - and it's just so "spot-on". Dr Collins describes each of the types of emotionally unavailable people using very real examples for each type. Dr Collins also goes on to give you tools for changing and growing and helping you recognise the ways you may be emotionally unavailable. I *love* this book. It should be part of all school's curriculum!! Great work Dr Collins - this is one of the best book's I have read. And I did read it from cover to cover; something I have never done with any other book!

I read Dr. Collins' book just after the break-up of a major and important relationship in my life. Once I came up for air and started wanting to live again, I had to take an honest look at my life - seems I was into a pattern of selecting men who fell into the "emotionally unavailable" category. I could have gone on and on to all my friends (and anyone who'd listen) about how awful men are, but I decided instead to accept some responsibility for myself and learn what it is/was about ME that fell for the emotionally unavailable man. Wow. Thank you, Dr. Collins, for mapping out why I was attracted to the unhealthy behaviors. I discovered just HOW and WHY I went from a relationship with an intellectually emotionally unavailable man to one who is narcissistic, controlling, manipulative, and ... well, I daresay toxic. (He rated 109 on the final test!) Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire! The one common denominator in all of my relationships is/was me. And finding out why I chose the emotionally vacant man (no matter what form those vacancies took and how the men exhibited those behaviors), has given me a new understanding and powerful place to begin my life from here! Starting with oneself is ALWAYS the best place to begin, and I feel very good about who I'm now becoming. I'm trusting myself, my soul, and my instincts. My belief system is strengthening and I feel a new value in life - that of knowing and listening to who I am, and defining myself without the assistance of someone else because of an unhealthy need of mine to be accepted. Yes, as you can guess, a lot of this goes back to childhood experiences, and Dr. Collins gives her readers a way to look back without blame, to see the truth, and move forward in a new, healthy, and productive way. Thank you, Dr. Collins! You shed the light and showed me a new path!

The other reveiwers have it right. After studying more than 30 titles on the craft of writing, I can say that this is by far the most useful work on developing believable and well-rounded characters that I have seen to date. The information is timely, practical, and accessible. The examples are well-organized and perfectly suited to the material. The writer can take what he learns and put into practice immediately. Excellent work!

If you want to get a headstart into what is to come in the next wave of character development then get this book. In my opinion, the future of character development and the secrets in creating a real person on paper lies in the studies done by professional acting coaches.

How did I get this opinion? Well, I was so enlightened by the information in this writing manual that I read the books by the acting coaches Collins refers to and discovered that Collins has scraped the surfaced on a whole science. These acting coaches studied human behavior not only from a scientific point of view but from a sensory point of view. At the time these "Acting Scientists" wrote these books, human behavior sciences like psychology, psychiatry and hypnotherapy were making great strides and right along with them, "Acting Scientists" were adding these priniciples to their acting methods creating a science that changed acting forever. And today, thanks to Collins, Novelists who want to create a real person can benifit handsomely.

There is a thin line between a great novelist and a great actor and I hope to see more acting techniques being translated for the novelist who wants to be great.

Brandilyn Collins treats us to the seven secrets she uses to bring her fiction to life. Through great examples and thorough explanations, she shows writers how to incorporate these secrets.

Beginning with personalizing, she encourages writers to dig deeply to understand themselves and their characters in a way that almost guarantees well-rounded characters. She delves into areas not often thought about that broaden and strengthen stories in surprising ways.

Use of action objectives provides clear motives, tension and conflict for characters, and subtexting explains how to capture unspoken dialogue on the printed page. Coloring passions and inner rhythm help writers develop rich, believable, emotional characters. Restraint and control explains how authors can make the best word choices, and emotion memory enables writers to create vivid characters even though they have not had experiences similar to those of their characters.

The appendix alone is worth the price of the book, because it recommends additional books on writing fiction. Each entry lists the book Ms. Collins recommends and the secret it supplements. 'Getting Into Character' will help both novice and experienced writers hone their skills. My well-worn copy sits on my desk so I can refer to it often.

Yoga is a practical philosophy & exercise regime that requires little equipment & less fanfare than almost any form of exercise other than walking or jogging. & with yoga you don't have to cope with traffic, people hurtling in opposite directions, pavements, potholes & pooches.

The one thing to remember about yoga is it's not a form of exercise that's in a hurry. The whole point is to slow down, extend & flex yourself slowly, deliberately, carefully.

A ten week course of Asanas is clearly illustrated as well as the Asanas for headaches, menstruation, stiff necks & shoulders & so on.

There are cautions given - about having a teacher first help you with the inverted postures, & people with chronic ailments.

HOW TO USE YOGA is elegant & truly useful - a pleasure to own. It has really helped me unwind, unstaple & uncrinkle my body & soul from the hectic workaday world I insist they lead, especially as I live far away from any yoga teacher.

I have really enjoyed learning yoga with this excellent step by step guide. Although its lighter on theory and explanation of the sutras and philosophy behind yoga than some of the other texts on yoga, its one of the best I've seen on how to do the asanas correctly. When you are thoroughly confused by yoga instructors who are busy teaching 60+ folks in the same classroom, this book will be a far superior mentor and friend than expensive yoga teachers! Highly recommended. Other than the Hatha and Ashtanga yoga books written by BKS Iyengar, I dont see anything better out there.

I actually returned a few other yoga books but keep this one. It has lots of help with getting into positions etc. Also has good background on yoga. Nice pictures.

This is a romantic book. I have read it cover to cover and it brought up wonderful memories of the brief time I have spent in New Orleans and vicinity. So far, I have made only one dish (White Bean Soup) so far and it was very bad. I found the directions confusing, which may have contributed to the failure. I also suspect they got the recipe from some colorful Cajun type sitting under a live oak smoking something funny. However,in spite of my nasty comments, I will make good use of this book as a source of ideas to adapt my tried and true dishes. As an example, I will adapt the bean soup recipe in an attempt to replicate a memorable bean soup I had in Tupelo, Missippi many years ago.

This not a cookbook for inexperienced cooks

This is the best of the best New Orleans cookbooks. I bought my first copy in 1975. It is stained and falling apart and I will not part with it. The recipes are authentic,well written, easily understood and they all come out delicious. I have given copies of the book to each of my children and now my friends want copies, too. I can't recommend this book highly enough. the navy bean soup and the shrimp creole recipes are family favorites, along with the chicken gumbo, soaked salad...I could go on and on. if you like Creole food you can't go wrong with this book.

This is my favorite New Orleans cookbook. It contains all of the definitive creole and cajun recipes. I have been cooking from this book for over twenty years. My dishes made from these recipes are good enough to allow me (and anyone else) to pass as a native New Orleanian.

This book is an original. It was first compiled in 1975 -- before the Cajun cuisine became a national fad. In our family recipes are generally referred to as "THE", implying that no mere imitation or substitute will do. What! this in not "THE" potato salad! Are you bringing "THE" gumbo? Rima & Richard Collin have created "THE" New Orleans Cookbook.

Read SINGING LESSONS by Judy Collins . . . this is a very
touching memoir of her life, her son's suicide and companion's
serious illness, and how she managed to survive these
events.

Judy Collins has always been one of my favorite performers . . . I also enjoyed reading about how her career evolved, as well as how she played with such other favorites of mine as Tom Paxton, Leonard Cohen, Joni, Mitchell, and Peter, Paul and Mary.

Best of all, the book came with a four-song CD (much to my
surprise) . . . what a treat to be reading her words at the
same time I was listening to her sing!

There were many memorable passages; ...P>[Andrew Weil confirms what I have learned through trial and
error about depression.] "The best single treatment (for
depression) is vigorous, regular aerobic exercise, at least
thirty minutes a day, five days a week." Most of the time, after I spend a half hour or more exercising, any cloud of depression lifts so completely that I feel a small miracle has been accomplished.

The writting style is stunnigly beautiful and impressive,just as authour's music always had a certain healing power.Many singers/actors are not capable to remember anything more than their LP's and awards - celebrities memoirs are too often simply boasting about their career - but Collins have a perfect ballanced view on her past and she writtes about her inner life much more than her career,which is mentioned basically briefly. Portraits of her father and mentor Anthonia are described with affection and of course the book never stops reflecting on her son.This is a clear picture of Judy Collins life from her point of view - no celebrity gossip,no recording dates,what really matters here are feelings and precious memories she shares with reader.At times I thought her story about son sounds a bit obsessive - until it made me realise that I think about my mother every day and she died 12 years ago,so I guess we never really let go.Not only that second half of the book brings very helpful observations how to cope with depression,Collins also have sharp witt and she saved certain original sense of humour which must be life-saving quality (on her knees in the bathroom of the White House,she laughs at herself),the whole book is a warm,affectionate celebration of spirit still shining bright after tragedy and life downfalls.

While listening to the current recordings of this remarkable performer, humanitarian, and personality, one is immediately struck by the warmth of her voice and its enduring stamina and honesty, the same can be said about, "Singing Lessons, A Memoir of Love, Loss, Hope, and Healing. If anyone wonders if it is possible to survive unbearable tragedy, and thrive, they only have to read this book. If anyone wonders about physical, spiritual, and emmotional vibrancy, beyond the age of 40, they have only to read this book! It has been said that to survive any great tragedy, you have to go through it and experience it honestly. For those of us who have gone through far less than the loss of an only child, this book is a triumphant road-map on how to grow and survive any of lifes unfathomable, unexpected, and unreal experiences. Judy Collins is a shinning example, not only for those trying to cope with an enormous tragedy, but many of the new comers in todays music and entertainment industry who could well learn a "lesson" from her tremendous example on how to be a "good" star, someone who is truly grateful for the position they have achieved, and seeks to give back to the world, a true sense of caring, a steady sense of responsibility, and most of all, an enduring sense of the "real" kind of love, that makes this book "sing," and the journey possible and worth the effort to continue.

A few years ago, my wife and I were looking for a book on the history of Christianity to help us in homeschooling our teenaged son. What made this a bit challenging is that my wife is a Protestant, and I had recently become an Orthodox Christian, so we wanted a book that treated our respective traditions objectively and with respect.

My wife came home from a conference sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International with a copy of "The Story of Christianity." Since I'd seen textbooks in Protestant Christian schools with a not-so-subtle anti-Catholic bias, and that treated the Orthodox as virtually non-existent, I viewed this title with suspicion.

The first thing that began to set me at ease was that it had been written by two scholars, one Roman Catholic and the other Protestant. I figured that they would at least show respect for each other's traditions, which I quickly found to be true.

Next, I began taking a close look at the opening chapters dealing with early Church history, covering "The Roots of Christianity" (starting in the Old Testament) and going to "The Conversion of Europe" (including the Great Schism of 1054). What I found was an objective, fair treatment of the early days in both the East and the West, when there was general agreement throughout the Church on orthodoxy, as well as the tragic differences that developed due to cultural problems (such as language differences and poor communication, political shifts (such as moving the capital from Rome to what became known as Constantinople), and differences of opinion on the role of the papacy. With the final split in 1054, any hope of reconciliation ended with the Crusades from the West and the sack of Constantinople in 1204.

From this point on, the book takes on a spirit of bi-partisanship as it develops the history of Christianity in the West, giving a scant two pages per chapter to the Eastern Orthodox, covering the next 1000 years. While this beautiful volume might mainly be of interest to readers from the West, with its emphasis on the development of the Catholic Church and the many denominations of Protestantism, through the shortcoming of omission, many readers may be left with the impression that--since Eastern Orthodox worship is virtually unchanged in 1700 years--not much else has gone on in the East either.

However, if one pays attention to the captions and sidebars, the reader discovers tidbits about the East that deserve greater treatment than it gets here. One caption on "An Orthodox View of the Trinity" mentions the theological debate on the Trinity, which surrounds the statement in the Nicene Creed about the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, but the text fails to amplify the controversy surrounding the filioque ("and the Son") added by the West, without the approval of an Ecumenical Council.

One also learns from other captions that "throughout the medieval period, the standard of education was far higher in Constantinople than in the West," or "for 1000 years Constantinople had been the home of the finest Greek scholars." If the Renaissance and Reformation get dozens of pages, why not the glorious Orthodox Byzantine Empire, the longest lasting empire in history? Why not spend more pages on the accomplishments of those fine Greek scholars?

Another caption states, "In the early 1700s missionaries from the Russian Orthodox church became active through the harsh region of Siberia," telling further how these efforts extended to Alaska in 1794 and "all the way down to San Francisco." This is an amazing missionary story that has yet to be read by most Westerners!

Brief mention is also made of Peter the Great's efforts to Westernize Russia, and in the process he almost dismantled the Russian Orthodox Church, the very institution that brought unity to this great, and vast, nation.

I'm also afraid that Western readers will be left with the impression that Orthodox Christians remain in the East, overlooking a growing Orthodox presence in the Western hemisphere, beginning with immigrant groups from Eastern Europe, as well as Arab Christians, but now attracting Westerners (like me) who have discovered the rich tradition of spirituality and worship within Orthodoxy.

The omissions in this book are too numerous to mention in detail, but don't get me wrong, I like this book! It's beautifully layed out, in the style of Dorling Kindersly's popular Eyewitness books, with colorful prints, drawings, maps and photographs on every page. In my opinion, this makes this volume superior to most Christian history textbooks. Also, I do think it treats all three major traditions respectfully, just not equally or proportionately.

I would still recommend that this book be in every Christian home (yes, even Orthodox), as it helps us to understand one another better. It would be attractive on a coffee table, and it is conducive to browsing. It would also be a welcome addition to church and school libraries...

I really liked this book as it is so colorful. A lot of history books fall down because they have very poor presentation. I am interested in art as well and I found the illustration really helpful. Another thing I liked about the book is that one author is a priest and the other a layman, a Protestant. Yet the two really gel well together. I have a new respect for the variety of Christianity and the influence it had on our culture and civilisation. Just to think, without the popes, America would not be geographically the way it is today.
I wish there were more in the book. Hopefully the paperback will have more. One last thing. This book is in no way designed or written to convert anybody. It is a scholarly, yet popular presentation of the largest religion in the world.
Full marks and a great read.

While it's written to be a Reference book, I couldn't put it down! I read the entire book, including the marginal notes, over two days. It was fascinating reading, and I am in awe of how much research these gentlemen had to go thru to assemble such an enormous history! Equally impressive was how fairly they treated all of the different Protestant faiths.
Lastly, while I attend an Assemblies of God church, I have gained more respect for the Catholic church, as well as other denominations. I feel more 'connected' to other Christian faiths, and see how little really divides us. It definately kept me awake all night -- feeling full of joy!

TYR's focus on anti-modernist viewpoints, primarily within the scope of history and paganism, is very close to völkisch ideologies in early twentieth century Europe: references to nature and the gods abound. While that acceptable on some levels, at times the contents of Tyr become too radicalized for its own good. Specifically by referencing John Walker, the American Taliban, and murderers like the Unabomber as a sort of purveyor of anti-modernism, Tyr would seem to alienate all but the most reactionary of individuals.

The general proposition from Tyr is rather then transform modernity into something beneficial beyond the current environment of plutocracy, one should avoid it altogether (see recommendations such as "eliminate technology as much as possible" or "leave one's dwelling and encounter nature directly"). This is not practical to the standard individual (whom ultimately I can only assume they are trying to cater to) and at worst comes across as idealistic.

One can hope that in the second issue some of these issues are addressed.

TYR is a surprisingly well-written book based on the Radical Traditionalist ideals of Italian Neo-Pagan and Nationalist Julius Evola.
Whereas Julius Evola was a Roman Neo-Pagan and a bit of a Taoist, a Radical Conservative, (Evola was NEVER a Fascist), and a flag-waving Italian Patriot, the people who wrote the essays that make up the book TYR are Norse Pagans, heathens, Odinists, or followers of the Asatru Faith.
Their political ideas are Left wing, Right wing as well as some pretty middle of the road stuff. I don't find Radical Traditionism very "radical", but I am a very extreme Pagan.
I liked Thorsson's essay about culture a lot. He showed how culture creates citizens.
After watching great American cultural events like Yuppies on Fear Factor racing to see who can eat a Pig Penis the fastest, it's surprising that more Americans aren't serial killers. What trash has Western culture become!
Anyway, if you didn't already know the soul of the West is rotting, you wouldn't be into Asatru in the first place, so I don't need to tell what a sack of vomit America is.
The book TYR is set up like a magazine. This is Vol. 1; hopefully, Vol. 2 will be out next year.
I like the ads. for Nordic goods: music, art, etc. It has some great culture connections.
TYR is a must have book for today's heathen. It will spark some good debates around the Mead Hall.
There are so few books now days that force you to think outside the Iron Heel box. TYR is very Un-PC. TYR is a good blow against the "Dictatorship of Crap" we call Western Civilization.

Tyr is a great journal. The articles are written by true scholars, philosophers, and theologians of the Greater Heathen Awakening. This book shows how we do not need to latch onto the present "Decline of the West" and be the host animal to the leeches of Monoculturism, Urban Life, and Ignorance. Yes, there are simularities to some old Volkisch philosophies, but the difference is, Tyr keeps them from going into the extremist realms that WWII Germany let them fall victum to. We mustn't let a knee-jerk reaction prevent us from seeing truth. Tyr keeps good, heathen thought pure and at home. As Stephen E. Flowers says in his opening sentence of his article, "Our culture is sick." But Tyr is the, at first bitter but, severely needed swallow of the badly needed medicine which many cure us. The first dose is always the hardest to swallow. But once you know and think about it intellectually, you come to realize it tastes pretty good. Now people just need to turn the knowledge into action!! Joshua Buckley, Michael Moynihan, and the rest of the editors of Tyr did an incredible job. I cannot wait to get my hands on volume 2! Every heathen should read this journal.

This book is not much larger than a paperback. I am 25 with perfect vision and I still feel I should use a magnifying lense with this book.

The Complete Works of Irish poet Oscar Wilde, which is published by Collins, is a must for a private library. It is an excellent book even if you only want to check one of Wilde's witty quotes - and there are plenty. The book includes Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which caused a fin-de-siecle scandal about a century ago because of its underlying homoeroticism. There are also all his famous plays which he wrote and was loved for by English society such as The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband as well as Lady Windermere's Fan. In addition, there are stories, poems (such as The Ballad of Reading Gaol - the jail he had to go to for his affair with Bosie Douglas), essays, and letters such as De Profundis. This newly illustrated centenary edition also incorporates recent revisions to the text, which probably only experts will spot.

Oscar Wilde was a self-described man of paradox. He was, simultaneously, a man very much of his time, and also very ahead of his time. He was a highly moral man who wrote clever epigrams about how good it is to be wicked ("Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.") He was a happily married man who happily loved his two children but also led a gay life on the side and wrote hilarous satires of love and marriage ("Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious: both are disappointed.") This huge book, which contains practically everything that Wilde ever wrote, shows the man in all his glory. After the introduction by his son, we are first launched into Oscar's stories. His one novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is a classic and a masterpiece. A devastating moral tale, this one deserves to be in everyone's library. His shorter pieces, however, are of a more questionable quality. Consisting mostly of moral ancedotes dressed up in the thinly-veiled guise of fairy tales for children, these works are the least exciting part of Wilde's oeuvre and of this book, and seem to lean heavily on his oft-spouted crutch of "Art for Art's sake." After the stories, we meet Wilde in the guise he was destined for: that of a dramatist. His play were an integral and ackwnoledged part of his genius, and their influence upon modern drama was enormous. His type of high, farcial "drawing room" comedy has left a permanent mark on the stage. It is easy to see how even the modern Hollywood sitcom sprung from these plays of Wilde's. However funny and biting the satire may be, though, the high point of Oscar Wilde's plays was always his epigram-laced dialogue - whatever the plot may be. Probably the finest - and most biting - aphorist the English language has ever produced, Wilde is probably quoted - whether people realize it or not - more often than any other source in the language, aside from The Bible and Shakespeare. The Importance of Being Earnest and Salome are his ackwnoledged masterpieces, but other plays - such as A Woman of No Importance and An Ideal Husband - are very good plays as well. He also has some very fine and underrated less original works, such as The Duchess of Padua that are quite well worth reading. From here, we move into Wilde's poems. Although, as he himself admits, they sometimes contain "more rhyme than reason", there is no doubting that Wilde was a master of language, and a fine poet. He won the Newdigate Prize for Poetry while at Oxford, and his "Ballad of Reading Gaol" is one of the finest poems in existence. What's left are his essays and letters. The most famous of them - indeed, one of the most famous letters ever written - is De Profundis, his strangely moving and tragic love/hate letter to Lord Alfred Douglas from prison. This is a shocking and immensely moving piece of work, and deserves to be read by one and all for its unique look into the human psyche - particuarly that of a man under intense suffering, and possibly on the brink. The letter is fascinating, and should put a different spin on Wilde than many people inaccurately have of the man - he was obviously of a very high moral character. Several interesting essays are also included - among them are The Critic As Artist and The Decay of Lying, two masterful pieces of Plato-istic dialogue, putting Wilde's severe wit and intimidating intellectualism on full display for all to see. One may wonder how much he actually believes of what he writes, but what he writes is brilliant. Another interesting essay is The Portrait of Mr. W.H., in which Wilde puts forth an interesting and unique theory about Shakespeare's sonnets. Also, while Wilde was not generally known for his political opinions, it is quite interesting to read his essay on political and social reform, The Soul of Man Under Socialism, as well as two letters he wrote about proposed reformations of the prison system.

All in all, this is a collection of masterful writings from one of the most tragically overlooked and underrated writers in the whole of literature. As another reviewer has pointed out, while Wilde rarely gets the credit he deserves for his work - and is often ignored, overlooked, or simply dismissed - his works are also widely and frequently plagarised - not to mention quoted legitimately - and were obviously extremely influential. You owe it to yourself to read the man's writings if you are not familar with his works; I guarantee you you won't regret it.