Contrary to what the title might make you think, you don't need NLP knowledge in order to use this book. The way it's written makes it even hard to recognize the NLP bits (I had to search for them).

Why only 4 stars? Even if the book is well written and is easy to understand, I had expected more from the book. The authors should have added some extra chapters dealing with other learnings from NLP that apply for relationships. Maybe I should be happy, at least that leaves room for others to write books. Also, the publisher has applied some low cost techniques: the paper is a bit cheap and the font used is a bit small.

Patrick E.C. Merlevede, MSc -- co-author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

This is a personal, engaging and satisfying book. The subtitle, "simple strategies to make your relationships work" may be misleading. It is more than that. As it is stated in the preface, "This book is not, however, about how to change or manipulate others into being what you want them to be. Nor is it about trying to fit into other people's expectations regardless of your own point of view. It is about being more yourself, putting more of yourself into a relationship and letting the other person be themselves too..." What a beautiful goal! The two co-authors have the gift in guiding us along in very simple language, metaphors, anecdotes and questions. They help us grow in understanding our biological, social and intellectual dimensions, or what they call "voices". They have distilled much wisdom from current literature on relationship, genetic factors, male and female differences and give life to the vision and concepts of NLP without any technical jargon. Instead of acquiring specific strategies or techniques, one grows through developing the different perspectives and reflecting on oneself, one's wants and shared goals, and learning how to change and love with commitment. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in life-long growing, esp. in relating.

This is a short and precise introductory text to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). That is probably the book's main strength - the fact that is short and that it condenses the topic very well. However, I did not find this book to be an easy read because somehow, the topic seemed scattered and not well defined. It failed to provide a usable framework to structure the material with the result that it seemed that one page of text after another, none of which taking me anywhere.

However, by the end of the book, you have a reasonable idea of what NLP even if it seems a little jumbled and mixed-up!

A very, very good basic introduction to NLP. This book is good for those who want an "executive summary" of the basic principles of NLP. It doesn't go into the techniques. Just enough to help you decide if NLP is right for you. If you want to get into basic techniques, best to skip this one and go right into "An Introduction to NLP."

This is the best introduction to NLP on the market today. Based on practical skills used by consummate communicators.

I picked up this book because is was on the Wall Street Journal's list of summer books. And while I find a lot of the WSJ recommendations good, I had to disagree with this one. Although the author has come up with a great plot, the telling of it leaves something to be desired, at least as a summer read is concerned. The author does well slowing revealing the pasts of the central characters - the characters are all intertwined in ways that they know and don't, and the setting of Ireland and a transatlantic boat trip are unusual ones. But this wasn't an easy book to read, with the author trying to go for an authentic mid-1800 tone. The language was difficult to digest while sitting by the pool in the hot sun. In a nutshell: story good, ease of readability bad. Bangkok 8 is a much better summer read.

When the "potato famine" of 1847 was over, two million residents of Ireland had died agonizing deaths, most of them from starvation. The events which led to the famine, the people who were directly affected by it, and the steps taken to ameliorate or escape it are the subjects of Joseph O'Connor's intense and heartfelt novel, Star of the Sea, named for the British-owned "famine ship" which is the center of the action here.

O'Connor presents four main characters who recall the pivotal experiences of their lives which lead them to make this fateful, 27-day journey. The reader becomes emotionally involved with their stories, acquiring a broad background in Irish social history--and its tragedie--in the process. Thomas David Nelson Merridith, Lord Kingscourt, is the ninth generation of his Protestant family to govern Kingscourt, with hundreds of workers dependent upon him. Now bankrupt, he and his family are going to America, first-class. Their nanny, Mary Duane, has recently joined the family, and her stories of her past loves, her marriage, and her loss of her own children illuminate the bleak prospects available to this warm and intelligent, but desperately poor, woman.

G. Grantley Dixon is a caricature of the liberal American do-gooder, whose reports about the plight of the Irish poor are influenced by his own socialism and by the reform-minded traditions of his family. Self-centered in his attitudes and limited in his social graces, he is detested by Merridith. Pius Mulvey is a mysterious ex-convict who comes from the same town as Merridith and Mary Duane, directly connected to both of them. One of over 400 passengers who have paid $8 per person for passage, he is crammed into the fetid and dangerous quarters known as "steerage," expected to stay alive on one quart of water a day and half a pound of hardtack.

O'Connor pulls out all the stops here in this big, broad melodrama, but an honesty of emotion and a fidelity to the facts here saves the novel from bathos and gives the reader cause for thought. Moments of both ineffable sadness and high drama arise, and O'Connor's imagery, especially his sense imagery, is arresting. Occasionally, his compression of time, for the sake of story, leads to anachronisms--several mentions of evolution, with parallels between monkeys and Irishmen, ignore the fact that Darwin's Evolution of the Species was not published until twelve years after this famine. Still, O'Connor presents a compelling story with many unforgettable details of Irish history. The ending is preachy, but the author does provide a follow-up on the characters after their arrival in America. The fact that at least one character becomes a politician (later accused of misappropriation of funds) will surprise no one accustomed to politics. Mary Whipple

This excellent historical novel vividly portrays the anguish of the Irish people who suffered through the potato blight and ensuing famine that left over two million dead from starvation. O'Connor brings the human suffering to life through a series of chapters, written by a journalist on the ship, in which particular characters are defined, as well as the manner in which their lives intersect. Against a harsh background, the passengers on the Star of the Sea embark on a voyage that will take them far from the horrors they have known, to a new life in America. During the course of this voyage, one passenger will be brutally murdered by another, but whom and why remains a mystery until the end. Yet there is an air of expectancy in that knowledge, as the unfolding plot reveals close associations between some passengers, forged years ago by time and circumstance.

The Star of the Sea carries First Class passengers as well as those in steerage. A member of the English aristocracy, Earl David Merridith of Kingscourt, his family and their nanny are ensconced in relatively comfortable quarters, along with other such men of substance. There is a sharp contrast between First Class accommodations and the cheapest berths, below decks, where hundreds are warehoused like cattle and disease is rampant. The poor are forced to endure yet more punishment with unsanitary facilities and insufficient food. Vessels like the Star of the Sea, with its well-meaning Christian captain, are all that is left for such throw-aways. Many succumb daily to a variety of shipboard diseases, sent quickly overboard to their watery graves.

A man who wanders the decks at night, when the others are sleeping, is much remarked upon by all. He is a small-boned figure, with a crippled foot, who treads the upper deck incessantly, back and forth, mumbling to himself. Called "the ghost" or "the monster" in his filthy clothes and unkempt appearance, he is, in fact, one Pius Mulvey, a survivor of the unremitting brutality that decimates Ireland's poor. Mulvey has, in fact, become a monster, a creation of his own extreme circumstances. Traveling the roads of Ireland and England, Mulvey has tasted every form of depravity and honed criminal skills along the way. While others suffer tragedy and find a source of strength, Mulvey has fed off his own venal acts, capable of the most heinous crimes. As a creation of his situation, his survival-at-any-cost attitude, Mulvey becomes an "Everyman" of the famine, a stark example of what becomes of a broken human spirit after repeated degradation and suffering.

Due to unwise investments, the Merridiths have lost the land their family has held for generations and, by opting to save themselves, they turn away from the destitute souls who seek to stay on the land. The only Irish citizen they take along is Mary Duane Mulvey, the widowed nanny of their two children. During the course of the journey, the Merridiths take pity on the duplicitous Mulvey, believing him victim rather than victimizer. They welcome him into the intimate circle of their family, oblivious to his true nature. Mary Duane recognizes Mulvey at once and is loath to have anything to do with him, yet she has a history with Mulvey as well as with David Merridith, adding another layer of complication to the relationships.

O'Connor's writing is impeccable, his illustration of the socio-economic class struggle of the mid-1900's pitch perfect. This horrific tale witnesses the virtual annihilation of a proud race. There is great compassion on these pages and piercing awareness of a dispassionate fate, the legacy of the famine. For some of the characters, their endless trials render them more complex; but for others, the façade of humanity is ripped away, revealing a heart scarred by rage. The claustrophobia on the Star of the Sea is almost unbearable, each day a burden, another glimpse of the past. Many live in hell and it is familiar, as is depravity and the utter loss of hope. Whatever the future for these unhappy passengers, they are forever marked by the passionate love and abject loss of a land that no longer provides for the living, become instead a vast graveyard of dreams. Luan Gaines/2003.

I ordered this book because of George Zee's review, and he was right on target. I was looking for a short, concise, well written NLP book for everyday problems. Though not new to NLP, this book gave me new insight on how to apply it to my own life. This has been a problem for me in the past as I tend to view things as too much of a technical exercise at times. O'Connor's writing style is conversational, flows well and is simple to follow. I would recommend it to anyone, and will probably be ordering multiple copies for gifts this year.

Joseph O'Connor has the gift to explain Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) in clear and simple language, illustrated by examples and metaphors. His Introducing NLP (1990)and Principles of NLP (1996) are still the best introductions that I continue to recommend to those interested in the subject. In the present small book he has gone further in utilising NLP insights without any technical lingo at all. Through personal anecdotes, guided exercises and clear explanations, he helps us to change our outlook and ways of thinking so that we'll successfully and easily live a much fuller life with clear goals, less pain, worry and stress and much more appreciation and resourcefulness. Once we learnt the difference between being inside and outside an experience, we can change our internal videos, self-talk and do mental rehearsals. We can also welcome criticisms. This book is especially recommended to those who are new to NLP. I wish the author will continue to write more books in this format.

After looking around for a while, I must admit that it is the best book about training I've found (as long as you're not involved in the classic education). The book offers a good and complete overview of what training is all about. If you know something about training, you will find out how much you already know. A nice feature of this book is its use of brain maps to offer a section overview, and really each chapter ends with an overview, offering the key points. My conclusion? If you want to know about training, get this book! If you want to get training in training, follow a seminar!

see www.7eq.com/books for more NLP book reviews

I got this book when I went to see Rex Steven Sikes in November, 1997 at his Trainers Training at IDEA SEMINARS in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I used it when I was training call center Advisors at GM Onstar
for Sitel Corporation
I particularly like all the mindmaps in it.
This book is an easy read for people in human resources and sales
or even computer trainers who are trying to
become good at standup delivery.
Its also good for managers
who need to train others and develop
exciting training for high technology companies such as
the Big 3 Auto Companies.
Elegant NLP basics covered with a customization
for people who train, teach and empower others.
If you manage people this will enhance your mission.
If you want to learn about NLP and Training this is the book
to have for your collection.
I'm currently using this material develop my teaching
lessons at the University that I'm teaching Computer
Science Courses.

I came to this collection of thirteen short stories after devouring O'Connor's brilliant novel of revenge, The Salesman. Three of the stories here ("Last of the Mohicans", "Mothers Are All the Same", and" Ailsa") will ring familiar to those who read his first novel, Cowboys and Indians (a coming of age tale with a bit less depth, but still worth a read). In general, the stories range from 10 to 25 pages and as a whole, provide a brief glimpses of everyday modern Irish people- the one exception being "Glass Houses," a story about a taxi driver which appears to be set in America. A prevalent theme running throughout is the forming and/or aftermath of relationships, both marital and extramarital, straight and gay. And the final two stories ("The Greatest of These is Love" and "True Believers") effectively combine themes of spiritual faith and loss. My favorite, however, is "The Long Way Home," which stands out as a creepy, surreal, and ultimately poignant tale of a man leaving his wife, who then picks up a hitchhiker who may or may not be dangerous.

This diverse collection of stories brings together a myriad of characters, ideas, and issues, which in essence bring alive contemporary Ireland despite wide spread stereotypes of this beautiful culture. The stories that stand out include: "Mothers are All the Same," a tale of a travellers uncertain future; "Volunteers," looks at the troubles through the eyes of a romantic relationship between a Brtitish soldier and an IRA volunteer, and finally "True Believers," a story that presents striking metaphors concerning Ireland's relationship with the Roman Catholic church. As an American living in Ireland at the time I read this book, "True Believers" was a part of my cultural education. O'Connor is an international and universal voice!

Practical NLP for managers is probably the more deeply involved NLP book that remains applicable in most everyday situtations. From building rapport to understanding different company leadership structures, this book is an excellent buy.

I was misled by the new title and publishing date and enthusiastically ordered multiple copies. But it was disappointing to discover that it is only a reprint. Please cf. my review of Principles of NLP two years ago. It is still a very good and lucid introduction to NLP, a complement to the author's Introduction to NLP, which did not include the Presuppositions.
(The book has 190 pages, not 224.)

I enjoy the general concept of Systems Thinking, however I found this text to be an overly superfical coverage of the topic. Additionally the book seemed unecessarily tainted by the author's political/religious views and the subtle underpinnings of some quasi-new age culture that seeks to rebel for no particular reason.

In the end, I threw the book out after reading about 3/4 of the way through. (Maybe not the fairest treatment of the work, but I can't stand to have my time wasted.) I recommend those who are looking to learn more about System Thinking find something that treats the topic more seriously.

-Steven

Overall this is a good effort and a decent introduction to the subject, but it leaves something to be desired in terms of depth. Some of the answers to the excercises are incorrect, so instead of claryfing the concepts they leave the reader confused. I found the notation for the diagrams somewhat simplistic: ok to get an overall idea, confusing if carefully analyzed. For someone who doesn't know anything about systems theory I would recommend this book, but I would also recommend following up with other, less superficial ones.

This is the book that made me wriet a review after 5 months of not having anyting on Amazon. How so? Let we think in this way. What is the "news"? News is a story of "bad" or "good". In this case, this is a very good, a good book.
O'Connor and McDermott comprehensively compile the story of "Systems Thinking" in a story-teller format. I trust you realize the important of "system" or "thinking" since you are reading my review. For any other "system" book, you might be afraid of highly mathematics or several jagons. Many times you may see the books on "systems" are more too much on "technical aspect". For readers in "thinking" books, you might experience the chaotic writing or too much philosophy (than practice). For those who are interested in "Systems Thinking", you might already experience highly differential equation that you already returned to your teachers.
So what O'Connor and McDermott did on this small book? They tell us a story of "System" and "System Thinking". Several examples are presented in different fields, mostly on daily life; making this book more readable. While O'Connor and McDermott tell us a "Systems Thinking" story, the "content" of "Systems Thinking" is not lessen. All technical terms that you fear from "Systems Dynamics" are delineated in human-readable-words. For example, instead of the author tell us about the derivative of y with respect to x, the authors use the word "flow" and describe it facing the word "level".
Each main section are very enjoyable to read, with summary. I personally like Chapter 2 the most. Chapter 2 shows me the different way to think about diferential equation application to the world. The last part of this book is the history and reference in Systems Thinking, which I strongly recommend any one to read it.
Personally, I recommend this book for every one interested in "Systems", "Thinking" and "Systems Thinking". Although you are a serious mathematician, you may want to discover the new perspective to the world. This can be the first book for novice Systems Thinker as well as companion book for serious Systems Thinker.

Yeats Is Dead! is the collaboration of 15 Irish writers all contributing a chapter to what must be one of the strangest mysteries ever (if you can call it a mystery). Wherever outcomes would seem predictable, the next writer reverses the tide of the story. Chapter 2 mentions none of the characters that Chapter 1 does, for example, and whenever a character is being built up they seem to be killed off by the next writer. One point where its a ridiculous turnaround is chapter 11-12. Chapter 11 ends:

"Paschal Greer was all out of options. So he did what he should have done many weeks ago. He stepped, forwards, took Grainne O'Kelly in his arms and kissed her. Now there was no more need for words."

And Chapter 12 reverses it totally:

"Well, now. Flip it now. That's just the last straw, thought Sergeant Greer as Inspector O'Kelly punched him bang in the kisser just as he was about to slip the tongue in."

The book is full of mirth and its set-up allows to make what would otherwise be a less good book into a great one. 4 stars.

The first few pages almost turned me off because I thought it was a run-of-the mill mystery. But then, after leafing through the proceeding pages, I got a glimpse of Kafkaesque characters in the two stupid cops, who are arguing, philosophically and pathetically, whether the dead man, Tommy Reynolds, was already dead before one of them shot him. I got hooked. I couldn't stop turning the pages until I got acquianted with a network of psychotics and maniacs. Although each author kills more people in every succeeding chapter, the taste of violence is somehow offset by the authors' wits and creativity that revealed the authors' intention to turn Yeats is Dead into a literary piece rather than an ordinary mystery. In Yeats is dead, 15 Irish authors created their dream world, where every living person is a literati. Consider these: a garbage collector, who reveals his aversion to the language of Mills and Boon; a cop who writes poetry; some drunken old bums and a bimbo who can appreciate the value of James Joyce's missing manuscripts; and crime bosses who can enumerate a long list of Irish authors. This is a wild and fun read!

I was recommended this book by amazon.com. I just can't recall why, but I had it put on my wish list when my brother decided to give it to me for a birthday gift last summer. After going through a long horrendous, yet exciting read of another Irishman John Connolly's "Every Dead Thing", I welcomed the change to the light hearted when my fiance thought it would be cool to go ahead with a story as witty as this one. Witty is one thing, but there were some parts that was truly laugh out loud.(...)

Yeats is Dead is a story without being a story itself. Written loosley by 15 Irish authors just out there to have some good old fashioned fun. Theyd o an excellent job with the idea and all, but fall extrememly short when it comes to ending the whole story. Under each author, the characters just seem to be suffering from some sort of schizophrenia with their feeling jumping from one point to another. It's just unbelievable to conceive, unbeliveable to believe, but truly enjoyable to go through it along through the end.

The book is an excellent read at just any setting. The beauty of it being not truly knowing how the tory is going to twist and turn so that you come out with the final chapter. I think Frank McCourt just didn't know what to do with it and hastily ended it. All in all, this is a funny book that deserves all the attention. You just love reading an Irishman's (or woman) tale. When they're drunk and in the tell tale mode they're funny and when they're sober, you still can't take anything they say seriously. And that's exactly how it is with this very one book.