Michael Johnston's written the best guide on online fundraising around. Lots of detail and practical advice. Well worth reading.

There is no doubt that Johnston's book is the most thorough study to date about how nonprofits utilize the Internet. It's full of real examples, which is a rare thing in Internet literature. Usually, it's just about potential and hype. Now, we've got some real data.

This book gives a painfully honest account of the author's journey from physical and sexual abuse to Christianity. Its easy reading style will allow you to read the entire book in one sitting. I literally couldn't put it down. Using biblical verses and the analogy of scars and scabs, the author gives the reader tools to overcome hardship and despair and to find triumph in God.

An honest and realistic self-help manual for those who have been physically, amotionally and sexually abused. The books details one womann's journey from victim to victor. Using Psalm 23, as a thread she takes the reader through the healing process and shows the power of God's grace and its effect on her ability not only to survive the abuse, but to manage her depression and forgive those who had violated her.
Helpful scriptures are interspersed through the book to elevate the faith of those who have been abused and those who love them.
If you have been abused or know someone who has this will be an invaluable addition to your library.

Once again, Mike Venezia does a first-rate job of introducing young readers to the life and art of one of the world's greatest artists. This time around it is Grant Wood, who youngsters might be surprised to know did more than paint "American Gothic." Venezia explains how Grant Wood, along with John Steuart Curry and Thomas Hart Benton, developed the style of art which celebrated people and customs of the Midwest, which became known as Regionalism. We see examples of paintings by each of the three down during the same period of time. Venezia also shows how Wood developed his art style. After a trip to Europe Wood was influenced for a while by the Impressionists; we see a comparison of a painting by Camille Pissarro and one in a similar style by Wood. But Wood was also influenced by the old master painters of the 15th century, and we see examples of that as well.

Venezia also covers the biographical details of Wood's life, usually illustrated with humorous cartoons. My favorite is when Wood painted camouflage on tanks and cannons during World War I. This book is illustrated with ten paintings by Wood as well as an early sketch and a stained-glass window he designed. I think they will find "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" to be the most striking and memorable. The last page has a special treat with his sister, Nan Wood Graham, and his dentist, Dr. B. H. McKeeby, photographed next to the "American Gothic" painting that immortalized the pair. I have enjoyed my education in Art Appreciation from Venezia, and this is one of his better efforts in the excellent "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists" series.

As an elementary art teacher, I always keep my eyes open for power-packed, informative, interesting, art-related books. This book is excellent in helping children relate to the artist's individual style ("...his trees look like broccoli") and comparing Wood's style to similar styles of his inspirational fellow artists. The children especially love the fictional yet funny cartoons relating to the artist's life. This book successfully portrays Grant Wood's love of his homeland.

After 30 years in Texas banking, I've seen it all, done it all and thought I had heard it all.... until I read Jody Grant's book. Great inside story. A great book even if you aren't a banker or an ex-banker.

Perhaps the definitive work on the Texas Banking crash from someone who survived, but not without scars. Grant's attempt to save his failing institution is a lesson in crisis management. Furthermore, his insights into the reasons behind the banking crisis are particularly relevant in the high growth 90's. Finally, the detailed account of working with the federal gov't (particularly the FDIC) will force anyone considering working in a highly regulated industry to think again.

Michael Grant has assembled a valuable dictionary of the classical world. It is one that I often refer to first when I want to know not only the location of a site but some of its history as well

For example, there is a two-page article on Thessalonica. The city was founded c 316 BCE by one of the successors of Alexander the Great. Grant continues his history through the late 5th century CE and ends with a mention of a 1978 earthquake.

Grant's more than 700 page book includes a series of maps which are found at the beginning of the book. There is also a list of ancient sources found in a bibliography at the end of the book.

Readers whose interest focuses upon the Ancient Near East will find that Grant focuses primarily upon the Greco-Roman world. Grant sets a timeframe which usually begins with the first millennium BCE.

And though there are articles on Elephantine, Syria, and Babylon, there are no articles on Sumer, Mari, Israel, and only a handful on any site whose name begins with Tel. Also the short two/thirds page article on Egypt is under Aegyptus.

It's a valuable dictionary. However if one's interest focused upon the Greco-Roman world, one would find Michael Grant's _Guide to the Ancient World_ even more valuable than I did.

Michael Grant proved himself many times over to be a master of the ancient Mediterranean world. The depth of his knowledge was astounding. This guide, like many of his others, offers scholars and laymen alike a comprehensive guide to the ancient Mediterranean world: cities, towns, rivers, countries, mountains, etc. But us goes beyond simple data listings. It is replete with insights into their origins and surrounding history and events, people associated with, the later impact of, and myths and legends of each and place in the book.

Thank goodness Michael Grant was so very prolific and loved to share his immense knowledge with the world. We owe him a substantial debt.

Having read and used fund raising books and materials for over twenty (20) years, I am very impressed with this book. It is excellent, very thorough, and covers all major areas for an organization's fund raising program. I highly recommend that every non profit organization own a copy and use as a reference guide on a regular basis. Its truly solid and complete.

The following describes the Second Edition of Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide published in April 2001 by Aspen Publishers, Inc. in Gaithersburg, MD

"The second edition of this best-selling book provides new and updated information that every beginning fund raiser or board member needs. Case studies and real-life examples provide practical guidance and an overview of the field while giving board members and development staff, managers, and directors a platform from which to operate their fund raising programs. This primer remains a "must-have" for anyone entering the fund raising arena or studying for the CFRE exam.

The new edition updates and strenghens: 1) Giving trends; 2) Computer hardware and software available in the fund raising field; 3) Cost estimates and workflow timetables; 4) Use of the Internet in fund raising; 5) Relationships between associations and their foundations regarding fund raising; and 6) New and successful case studies that relate fund raising theory to practice.

Practical advice and valuable insights from two savvy pros with more than 45 years of combined fund-raising experience."

Whether you've been in the fundraising profession for 10 minutes or 10 years, do yourself a favour and read this book. It will make you proud to be part of the tradition of philanthropy. It will inspire and guide you. You will see yourself and the volunteers and donors you work with in a whole new light. Don't put it in your library. Keep it on your desk. The first time you read it, and you will read it joyfully from cover to cover, keep pen and paper handy. You will find yourself making a list of things you need and want to do. Achieving Excellence in Fundraising is thoughtful and thought-provoking. It is the place where the theory, practice, philosophy and spirituality of a great tradition meet.

On my fundraising shelf stood just two books and a binder: "Designs for Fundraising" by Harold Seymour © 1966; "The Raising of Money" by James Gregory Lord © 1987, and my collected monthly newsletters of tips from Taft. Not a lot to go on, but Seymour's classic helped me enormously, imparting such nuggets as, "At best, with few exceptions, people don't pay close or careful attention to anything."

OK, so listen up. Times have changed. Many, many books now beckon us, delivering the full spectrum of nonprofit knowledge. Yet all books are not equal. When Henry (Hank) Rosso gathered a number of esteemed colleagues together and put out Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising in 1991, it represented a milestone in fundraising education, based as it was on his many years of teaching through The Fund Raising School, which he founded right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. The School later became a program of The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, and it continues to provide superior, basic training in fund raising principle and practice throughout the country. All the years of teaching experience and the benefits of association with IU are now reflected in this expanded, caught-up-with-the-world second edition of the "Rosso" (RAH-so).

It was time. Consider that when Achieving Excellence debuted in 1991, the stock market stood at 2736, Giving USA estimated total philanthropic support at $105 billion, and the National Science Foundation had just lifted its ban on commercial use of the Internet. Today, as we reel and grapple, it is worth noting that the markets have more than tripled from 1991; philanthropic dollars have doubled; and the Internet is our bread and butter. The second edition adds several chapters in recognition of the changes and rounds out its predecessor. We read about the new order, how to build endowment, women as donors, trends in major donor giving (read with caution, as markets and donor experience have had some impact), diversity considerations, Internet strategies, special events fundraising, technology use, budgeting and accountability, stewardship, international perspectives, and fund raising as a profession. These are welcome additions.

Given the scope attempted by the book, I should point out that there are, in fact, a few areas not covered, including how to obtain government grants and contracts, and exhaustive instructions on how to write a grant proposal to a foundation. But if you heed what these authors have written, you will have no problem accomplishing either feat.

Most of the authors in this edition are new to the "Rosso," numbering 27 in all. The first edition lists 13 contributors. Hank wrote eight of the chapters of that book; he has two in this one. With Hank gone (1999), we are guided into Rosso II by the gentle, sure hands of Eugene Tempel, executive director of the IU Center on Philanthropy and Tim Seiler, current director of The Fund Raising School. Between them (with a chapter from Hank), they set the stage in Parts One (Context) and Two (Fundamentals).

The book proceeds logically and is easy to navigate or use as a quick reference. "Fundamentals" is followed by sections treating "building blocks" (e.g. annual fund, capital campaign), sources, methods (e.g. direct mail, special events), management (e.g. leadership, boards, information, budgeting, consultants), ethics, stewardship, and personal professional support. A thorough Glossary and Bibliography follow.

Our AFP chapter boasts several representatives here: Kim Klein reprises her excellent chapter on grassroots fund raising and Kay Grace on leadership; Mal Warwick writes the update on direct mail; Alan Wendroff supplies special events; and Skip Henderson updates us on the trustees' role.

The context is still Hank's, which means that ultimately, the book is not about the joy of soliciting but something higher. I'm sure he would be tickled if you inscribed your book as he wrote in so many of our first editions "I hope that you will enjoy the reading of this book. Let it help you to teach the joy of giving. Hank Rosso"

In "Heaven Below," Grant Wacker takes the reader on an exhilarating and informative romp through the early years (1900-1925) of American Pentecostalism. Through extensive research and superior storytelling, he demonstrates how these religious pioneers brought together the clashing impulses of the "primitive" and the "pragmatic" to "capture lightening in a bottle" and launch an explosive movement. Potential readers need to be warned in advance that the author is a social historian and academician. If you are looking for stories of romanticized heroes of the faith or glowing partisan historiography, you'll be disappointed. What you will get is a consistently fair, sometimes surprising, and always interesting account of the early Pentecostals.

In the book's fifteen chapters we get a glimpse into the character, temperament, and daily lives of these adventurous and hearty souls. You'll discover the keys to their effectiveness and the areas where they stumbled. Included among many subjects covered are the movement's leaders, the theology and practicality behind the prominence of women, their changing views on war, the persecutions they faced, and even the "gift of tongues" that helped make their faith distinctive. The stereotype of the poor, illiterate, and disinherited Pentecostals is dismantled. Instead you will meet a representative slice of early 20th century America. They were a people genuinely sincere, deeply committed to their beliefs, and fully convinced that they were instruments in the hands of Almighty God, empowered by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

"Heaven Below" is made up of 269 pages of fascinating reading, followed by an appendix, and 82 pages of footnotes. It also includes a valuable index. I had some difference of opinion with Wacker's conclusions and occasional qualms with his assumptions, but as a social history, I highly recommend "Heaven Below." Grant Wacker is Associate Professor of the History of Religion in America, Duke University.

Grant Wacker has written a wonderful book. His scholarly treatment of early pentecostalism (1900-1925) is matched by his ability to write for a general audience with insight, sympathy for his subject, and a tremendous wit and appreciation. His views are balanced, his anecdotes are well-selected, and his writing is first-rate. He covers all aspects, races, and gender issues in early American pentecostalism. Anyone interested in American religion in general or penetcostalism in particular MUST read this book. A professor told me in grad school that the explosion of new books would only get worse. He advised me to buy only those books that would either change or advance my life: this is such a book.

Introductory to intermediate level textbook which deals with a number of issues in detail: exegesis, systematics and homiletics.

This is the book for pastor, layman, student, college student or any Christian want to know the biblical truth, the often words "bible speak". I have many "how to" books on intepretation but overall to me this is most practical how-to that when I put it in practice; simply "It work". When I go to theology SWC school, so often my professor use it's methods for our assignments; eventhough he not use that book, the reason it: "too many pages for a semester". I highly recommended for anyone love God and His Living Word - Word of Life...I John 1

I have always been skeptical about buying strategy guides, but the author of this Hexen game guide really knows how to put it together to make the book totally understandable and easy to use. From the beginning where there is a brief synopsis of the game and what led up to it, to the in-depth analysis of the 3 playable characters, the monsters, and tactics to deal with them, what weapons to use for each different situation, and how to use the artifacts to your advantage. However, where this guide really shines is the walkthrough section. Extremely detailed, easy-to-read maps for all 31 levels, and the text accompanying the maps is like having your own personal tour guide along with you. Mind you, I don't like to use a strategy guide to spoil all the adventure, but when you play this game, you realize it is almost essential to have some 'help' along the way to victory against Korax and his minions. In closing, I would like to add that I hope to see more strategy guides from this author, as he is very player-friendly in his layout of his guides.

Great maps. Extra Cheat codes in the back if you really want them. Helpful descriptions of each hub and what you are trying to do in each one. Because I had the book (I don't usually buy these kinds of books but I was really "stuck") I got deeper into how to use different artifacts that I normally just ignored. This made the game so much fun that I played it twice as two different characters.