Subjects are thoroughly covered and the information is written in an friendly and interesting manner. If you have a question about the Sonoran Desert, you will most likely find the answer here. Among other surprises, this book offered my first look at the "creeping devil cactus" - how interesting! I'd never even heard of it before. "A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert" is a book you will turn to for detailed information that can be trusted as well as entertainment. Very nice photographs and illustrations. A great book for a nature lover, even if the Sonoran Desert holds no particular interest to them.

This is the ideal book to take along on trips to the Sonora Desert. Whether it is the Cailfornian , including Baja, Arizonian(it actually covers five states) or Mexican portions of the vast and diverse Sonara Desert, the details and complexities of this eco system are truly amazing. This book is an indespensible guide to all facets of this immense gift, including the many plants and animals that inhabit this harsh yet bountiful environment. It is a book to read before, as well as after the trips to the desert. Since it is so diverse and vast , covering some 100, 000 sq.mi., the amount of information given is quite a bit but done in such a mannner that one can easily navigate the text to the desired area of interest Inevitably one will stray into an area of new found interest. The little known facts are a lay persons path to knowledge about what the heck they just saw or are about to see. The black and white illustrations for the plants and animals you will or did encounter are excellent and extremely helpful for identification. There is a section with color photographs as well to further illustrate the beauty of the Sonora Desert. With contributions by some thirty five different experts in their pespective field this book is the ultimate guide. Do not hesitate to buy this book if you are visting the Sonora Desert as it will prove to be a valuble reference tool that can be used over and over. Since there is so much to learn about the Sonora Desert and it's inhabitants, this book can be read anytime, anywhere since it is nearly impossible to experience it all. Recommended for the tourist, naturalist or anyone interested in learning more about the 2000 species of plants, 550 species of verbrates and thousands of unknown invertebrate species who make the Sonora Desert home. This is truly fascinating material that only nature can provide so don't hesitate to purchase this book.

we agree with all of the other reveiws.... a great discovery and a great resource....Glad we got it...

As a former director or vice president of human resources in three different large companies over 14 years, I can't remember the number of times my bosses and peers challenged me to provide the business case for one hr program or another, either when developing a budget for the coming fiscal year, or defending a budget during hard times. For years, I lost more of those arguments than I won because I didn't always hold myself accountable to the same standards to which other functions were held, nor was I expected to. Over time, my staffs and I got better at measuring the impact of our strategies on various measures of organizational performance, and with that came budgetary "victories" and greater respect as business partners. That's what The Human Resources Scorecard is all about, and by reading and using the wisdom it contains, newcomers to the hr function and late adapters of hr measurement, can enjoy in relatively short order success and respect, which are the "price of admission" to the "executive suite". Having achieved that credibility, we then have the challenge of elevating our conversations with our bosses, peers and clients regarding the intangible dimensions of human and organizational soul, but that's another book in this series.

Super reference guide. Case studies are well organized and meaningful.

This is a comprehensive guide for evaluating any type of Human Resource Development (HRD) program. Even if you do not have a background in measurement and evaluation, you would be able to pick up this book and begin to understand the important aspects to consider in evaluation and how to plan and conduct an effective evaluation. The case studies in this book are valuable because they go into detail - you feel you have been a part of the program described. The authors are experienced practitioners who have alot to share and they do a terrific job providing the reader with the benefits of their experience.

I have to say that the book is simple to read and it shows one the steps in order for one to apply clown white and the other materials in steps that go along with face painting yourself like a clown, etc. the text(book) has live photos of kids, and on the following page it has several sketched photos of how the make up in applied. the book is low priced. the book contains like around 40 pages, and you actually learn alot.
Now if your dream has always been to apply corpsepaint and need a good book-i suggest you get this one because it is pretty good. the only thing i have to say that the book does not have any toll free numbers along with addresses that state the places in this country USA OR CANADA of the places that sell clown make up or also known as "Corpsepaint." clown white is known as corpsepaint in the heavy metal world
Fantastik. this book provides the basics to all, then the rest is up too you!!

This is a great 'cookbook' for face painting. The best part is deciding which character you want to become - a clown, a lion, a cat, a witch, a princess, a pirate... Or if you just want ideas for decorating yourself, those are provided as well. The book begins with a section of face-painting tips, including extra helps for doing this job safely. In addition to giving instructions for sixteen different characters, the author offers suggestions for costuming. Necessary materials are listed with helpful hints on where to find them. Step-by-step instructions are listed for each character. This is a delightful craft book with excellent illustrations for all face-painting novices.

This moving novel, set in modern Los Angeles, details an eventful year in the life of a young woman named Tracey and her close friends and family. It includes surprising plot twists, very likeable characters, and even some characters that we love to hate! The novel illustrates the importance of family and friends in overcoming adversity and in dealing with the consequences of the choices that we make in life. Although you may find this book under the African American Fiction section, I feel that it speaks equally well to women of all races. I highly recommend this book!

This book should be read by every woman who has lost a love one and simply choose to love again. This book is so very inspirational in that it makes you laugh, saddened, hopeful, and finally victorious. Patricia Ann Phillips puts out a winner each time. I would urge anyone to read this book and know that you are not alone-Things happen. It encourages you to keep moving on, for love has no season.

Marriage is a business contract, and men break the contract all the time! I never thought my man would divorce me. But after 23 years and 4 kids, he decided he wanted out so he could be free to play around (aka finding himself). So buy this book as soon as you can, even BEFORE you think your marriage may be in trouble. I think Amazon should give chapter headings in their reviews, so I'll do it for you: Chap 1) Bad Divorces Happen to Nice Women (that's me; was I TOO nice?) Chap 2)Think about Divorce before you marry (wish I had!) Chap 3)What to do when your marriage is dying (recognizing when he's on his way out, and start protecting yourself) Chap 4)Choosing a lawyer; Your Most Important Decision Chap 5) What to Expect from Your Lawyer Chap 6) What your Lawyer expects from you Chap 7) Your Children and Your Divorce Chap 8) Money and the Divorce Treasure Hunt (find the money he's hiding from you. If you can't show that it's there, you can't claim your share!) Chap 9 After you File for Divorce (the legal roadmap) Chap 10) Discovery: What it is and How It Works Chap 11) Getting Ready for Trial Chap 12) The Trial Chap 13) The Ending Chap 14) Special Issues (violence, etc) and Appendices with a great little summary of divorce laws of all 50 states.

This book would have saved me a number of mistakes before our separation, but at least I got this excellent advice soon afterwards. No one book can have everything in it, so when you are ready for the "meat" of your finances, get the Violet Woodhouse book, Divorce & Money; How to Make the Best Financial Decisions during Divorce. Good luck and God bless.

"The Bottomline on ROI" written by Patricia Phillips explains the principles of the Return on Investment (ROI) process clearly and succinctly and points out the most imporant aspects of implementing the process in order that it be successful. It is an important addition to the field of measurement and evaluation because it provides the benefit of Phillips's extensive experience in the field of measuring training and performance improvement but at the same time does not intimidate the new practitioner. Although my library is filled with books on evaluation, I keep this one in my hip pocket.

This sweet little children's book has it all. Right off the bat the main character makes a very bad choice and learns that getting what you want can make you miserable. Finally unable to live with himself he owns up to what he has done, and much to his surprise, discovers that what makes him truly happy is doing the RIGHT thing.

The newest title in the outstanding ASTD "In Action" series, Building A Successful Consulting Practice is an impressive and informative collection of twelve case studies, each of which offers invaluable advice and keen insight to anyone interested in launching a consulting firm. Each of the studies focuses on lessons learned from that particular case example. Building A Successful Consulting Practice is an excellent supplementary resource for determined entrepreneurs aspiring to make their mark in the competitive world of professional consultation.

... here is the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this book is for you: "Reunited with Luis de los Santos, the man who shunned her years before, Elena suffers a double blow when she discovers that Luis belongs to another ... Sultry and exquisitely beautiful, Elena was sought after by every man in Mary Tudor's court, but only one held her heart. As golden as the sun, Luis de los Santos had given her a taste of ecstasy in his strong arms, but he offered illicit passion instead of a wedding ring. Dirven apart by prive, they would be reunited by destiny on the sun-drenched plains of a Spanish rancho. Now Luis belonged to another, but his forbidden love for Elena knew no bounds, obeyed no strictures. Side by side they would battle the dangers of their turbulent era and forge a new life together ..."

A review by Eric Newell
April 10, 2002
The Crisis of Care is moving away from the technological, managerial aspect of caring. The need is to restore the concern and compassion for the need of the care receiver. Persons care for the wrong reasons. If it is not the aspect of filling the prescribed attention to a patient, very often there is the one who is interested to help or assist because they feel a sense of moral commitment or the sense that it will make them feel good. The editors quote Wuthnow's survey report that 42% of Americans were interested giving themselves for the benefit of others. The percentage dropped to 15% when asked if they were willing to sacrifice to help another person." (1994, p.23)
"From the time we were children, we were told by our parents and our grammar school teachers to "Pay Attention!" Even though we have grown inured to this injunction and shrug it off, there are few things in life more important." (1994, p. 28) Restoring those concerns for the individual, the context of their situation and what it is that needs to be protected for the care receiver is important.
Steven Covey in his writing cautioned against responding to the "Tyranny of the Urgent". In "The Crisis of Care," the chapter, "Teach Us to Care and Not to Care," says the caregiver who offers standardized responses to the needs or responds to that which gives only immediate relief, is not giving the full extent of care. There needs to be the caregiver who is will not only to pray for the receiver only, as an immediate answer to the problem, but who is willing to take the time to teach the receiver how to pray. This awareness of how to pray helps the person begin to understand that value can be found even in the experience of their suffering.
Creating a context of care, listening and reducing isolation are all important in care giving. It is not enough to know the facts about a person or even the facts about their situation. The concern is that one knows the issues and reasons, which surround those facts. This is important whether it involves the student in the school or the patient wrestling with the quality of life. "From a theological standpoint, any notions of caring we might have grow out of our divine vocation, to reflect in our lives together in the world the character of God, manifest in his covenant love, (the compassionate behavior of God)."
Phillips and Benner blend the use of narrative, dialogue and instruction to emphasize the strengths and weaknesses in present day care giving. The reoccurring issues of finding the context, the willingness to listen and the autonomy of the care receiver emphasize the point of the writing that care giving needs to move beyond the mechanical and technological response.

Phillips and Benner have edited nine narratives written on "redesigning the structures and processes of our public caregiving institutions in order to better facilitate practices of caring," (vii) an excellent resource for those in the helping professions and for those who care. The narratives are actual circumstances with real people who practice within the caring professions. The authors invite the reader to examine the narratives in terms of the practices of care illustrated by them (vii). Because the narratives are written by practitioners and theorists who are experts in their field (10), each has spoken out against the objectification and commodification of persons and practices that mask contemporary helping professions (11).
These are examples of the experts. Robert Bellah, a sociologist, argues for a rich, interpersonal world as he pleads for Americans to listen and see, by adopting an ethic of responsibility, of moral discourse, instead of control and commodification (13).
Patricia Benner, a professor of physiological nursing, advocates that, "effective caregiving requires more than intent or sentiment. It requires skill and knowledge and being in relation with others in ways that foster mutuality, empowerment, and growth" (45).
As a pastor and theology professor, Eugene H. Peterson describes the difference between genuine caring and control veiled as caring. Dr. Peterson believes that we are meant to open out toward our neighbors and open upward towards God, and that we can be whole and healthy humans only to the degree that we do this (69).
Pediatrician E. Dawn Swaby-Ellis states that "whatever the competing factions my challenge is the same: to be effective, efficient, and empathic" (84). Furthermore, she believes that caring for patients must come out of true concern and love for them (90). Her personal caring relationship with her patients was deeply validated by her exposure to the biopsychosocial model proposes by George Engel and expanded by Paul Tournie to include the spiritual dimension. Although, Dr. Swaby-Ellis praises many of her teachers, she declares the Holy Spirit to be her greatest teacher. "It is one thing to be a Christian who wishes to live a life of obedience to God by showing love to mankind. It is another thing to integrate our faith into the fabric of our being so that our actions mirror our spiritual belief" (93).
To Anna Richert, an educator, all teaching practice must help kids to grow through caring. Although there are increasing challenges and dangers educators deal with daily as they attempt to care by teaching in urban chaos, still "children need care and they also need to learn to care for one another. Ultimately they need to learn to care for themselves" (109). I agree with Richert that fundamental to teaching children to care is the fact that children "need to feel and be safe" which includes "needing to trust others, and having a sense that others believe in them" (109).

Insightful, humane, challenging, reflective, and practical are words that describe, The Crisis of Care: Affirming and Restoring Caring Practices in the Helping Professions, edited by Susan Phillips and Patricia Benner. The nine chapters followed the format of a story narrative followed by a pertinent and complimentary discourse. Phillips wrote: "Teaching, nursing, medicine, psychotherapy, and pastoral ministry are written of from the inside in terms of excellent practice" (vii). Inevitably, "care is relational, creating more than we expect and at other times showing us the limits of 'helping'" (10).
Phillips' book is a positive example of how ritual and relationship can fuse to embrace the unique personhood of students, patients, clients, and parishioners; thereby, humanizing what has been viewed as merely objective clinical processes and procedures. The distinguished practitioners and scholars who contributed stories and essays are to be commended for their efforts in providing authentic care themselves and in sharing their insights.
The stories are powerful. A Holocaust descendant's anxiety is relieved because the psychotherapist heard with an inner ear, the patient's real and heretofore unexpressed need. Attention to the not said and the unseen on the part of the caregiver is of terrific value when providing care. An abortion case is reviewed with some of the multiplicity of implications that are involved. "Sammy," a six years old Amish boy, kicked by a mule, is restored to health. The preparation of a simple meal and the opportunity to learn the history of an African-American woman's family (Ambrosia Jones) helped pave a road to recovery. Death by choice in a chapter of the same name is provocative. Blake's story is about the unattractive child. It presents the compassionate value of a mother's love, and reveals a doctor's openness to in-seeing and in-hearing, and thereby some profound learning occurs. Mrs. Clark's paralysis and the visiting male nurse's ritual and relationship pastoral care story are inspiring.
The insights are powerful. Benner wrote: "If we were able to replace our disease care system with caring practices that foster illness prevention and health promotion so that clinical wisdom could be fostered from caregivers and receivers alike, we would alter dramatically how we are spending our health care dollar" (59). Eugene Peterson described the pastor's task: "Pastors identify God in the action, God in the language" (74). Peterson's challenge was to learn when to care, and not to care. The Atlanta, Georgia pediatrician, Dr. E. Dawn Swaby-Ellis learned: "My greatest teacher in learning how to care has been the Holy Spirit" (93). Clinical Psychologist Mima Baird echoed the sentiment by contributing: "To care is to listen; to hear is to care" (96). Teacher Anna Richert noted that it lies within the ability to make authentic connections that the capacity for care is enhanced, and by implication, the significant educable moment can be realized. Professor Joel Green draws attention in his summary statement: "Just as we know the character of God only in the concreteness of our lives, especially within the community of God's people, so we recognize the threads and hues of human reflection of God's character only in the fabric of social life in the everyday world" (165).
Quickly paced, tightly written, and imaginative stories, and longer, but nevertheless interesting reflections and observations, make The Crisis of Care an excellent addition to every caregivers memory storehouse and personal library.