Book Description
A renowned speaker, business consultant, record-setting speed skier and Olympian, Vince Poscente believes in the enormous potential of the unconscious mind. Poscente likens the dynamic between the conscious and subconscious minds to an ant and an elephant: "Our minds are separated into two distinct functions - the conscious and subconscious elements. Our ant is the intentional part of the brain, but our elephant is the instinctual, impulsive part of the brain that houses emotions and memories and even guides the body to perform vital functions. While we tend to know our conscious minds - our ants - rather well, we often overlook the power of our elephantine subconscious minds. When we do, unfortunately, we squander a wellspring of human potential." Having seen too many books focused on what a problem or solution is and too few focused on how to solve the problem, Poscente, with his trademark wit, wisdom and steely resolve, created The Ant and the Elephant - Leadership for the Self: A Parable and Five-Step Action Plan to Transform Workplace Performance.
Customer Reviews:
Humor and learning all in one!.......2007-07-19
Absolutely love it! It's funny and has learning points. An easy read. Feels like I'm watching an animated movie. Perfectly suits the need for which I made the purchase. Would definitely recommend to others!
Vince Poscente really gets "it!".......2007-07-15
The Aunt and The Elephent really drew me in and surprised me with it's simple leadership lessons that have a powerful impact. I highly recommend this and all of Vince Poscente's books.
kings of the wild frontier.......2007-03-05
A simple but illuminating parable that takes the reader into a childlike state of wonderment that leads to learning some valuable lessons about creating and reaching worthwhile goals. Like Kandee G, Bud Bilanich, Laura Lewis, and Tony Beshara, this guy has a knack, in the realm of motivational books, for sensitizing the reader's mind before inserting real humor and practical advice that works.
One may be disarmed by the fantasy orientation of this book and its ability to stay out of "scenes from the boardroom." I found it refreshing and edifying. Open Your Mind!
Improving Yourself and Your Leadership Skills.......2006-11-29
Author Vince Poscente's book is an interesting concept that works to bring the conscious (that of the ant) and subconscious (that of the elephant) minds together. This book is relatable in that it utilizes familiar accounts to help you discover your inner fears and redirect your efforts toward a more positive and worthwhile outlook. Because this book is in the form of a parable story, it is easy to follow as it does not contain a large amount of business jargon.
A Parable for Future Leaders.......2006-11-21
This book is a five-step approach to leadership and improvement within both the business and personal aspects of life. It is an easy and short read that opens readers' eyes to discovering their true potential and ability to perform. Using characters such as an ant and an elephant to relay the story, it teaches the reader some valuable lessons that can be put to use in many areas of one's life.
Book Description
Whether regarded as a science, an art, or a skill–and it can properly be regarded as all three–logic is the basis of our ability to think, analyze, argue, and communicate. Indeed, logic goes to the very core of what we mean by human intelligence. In this concise, crisply readable book, distinguished professor D. Q. McInerny offers an indispensable guide to using logic to advantage in everyday life. Written explicitly for the layperson, McInerny’s Being Logical promises to take its place beside Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style as a classic of lucid, invaluable advice.
As McInerny notes, logic is a deep, wide, and wonderfully varied field, with a bearing on every aspect of our intellectual life. A mastery of logic begins with an understanding of right reasoning–and encompasses a grasp of the close kinship between logical thought and logical expression, a knowledge of the basic terms of argument, and a familiarity with the pitfalls of illogical thinking. Accordingly, McInerny structures his book in a series of brief, penetrating chapters that build on one another to form a unified and coherent introduction to clear and effective reasoning.
At the heart of the book is a brilliant consideration of argument–how an argument is founded and elaborated, how it differs from other forms of intellectual discourse, and how it critically embodies the elements of logic. McInerny teases out the subtleties and complexities of premises and conclusions, differentiates statements of fact from statements of value, and discusses the principles and uses of every major type of argument, from the syllogistic to the conditional. In addition, he provides an incisive look at illogical thinking and explains how to recognize and avoid the most common errors of logic.
Elegant, pithy, and precise, Being Logical breaks logic down to its essentials through clear analysis, accessible examples, and focused insights. Whether you are a student or a teacher, a professional sharpening your career skills or an amateur devoted to the fine points of thought and expression, you are sure to find this brief guide to effecting reasoning both fascinating and illuminating.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A Helpful Introduction to Logic and Good Thinking.......2007-05-08
The subtitle to this slender volume (only 131 pages), is "A Guide to Good Thinking." Logic is not a subject only to be utilized and studied by philosophy professors and college students; it is a subject that should be pursued by all, in some measure, since we should all desire to think well. In the preface, McInereny writes, "Logic is about clear and effective thinking. It is a science and an art. This book is intended to introduce readers to the rudiments of the science as well as to the basic skills associated with the art...my aim here is very modest. This is neither a treatise in logical theory nor a textbook in logic...My governing purpose was to write a practical guidebook, presenting the basic principles of logic in a way that is accessible to those who are encountering the subject for the first time."
In my opinion, McInerny delivers what he promises in the preface. This book is very readable and accessible. In the first portion, he helps the reader 'prepare' his mind for logic. Someone who desires to think clearly should exercise attentiveness when listening to someone present an argument; they should seek to get all their facts straight and the should avoid vague and ambiguous language-just to name a few.
In part two, he lays down some foundational principles in logic like the principle of identity (a thing is what it is) and the principle of the excluded middle (between being and non-being there is no middle state), the principle of sufficient reason (there is sufficient reason for everything) and the principle of contradiction (it is impossible for something to be and not be at the same time and in the same respect). He also instructs his readers to be aware of generalizing and the importance of defining one's terms.
In the third section of the book, McInerny introduces his readers to the structures of good arguments, and in the fourth and final section of the book, he helps his readers identify forms of illogical thinking; otherwise known as logical fallacies.
Scattered throughout the book were some excellent quotes that I think would be immediately helpful:
Argumentation: "Argument is rational discourse. It is not to be confused with quarreling. The object of argument is to get at the truth. The object of quarreling is to get at other people. There are any number of folk who, though happy to quarrel with you, are either unwilling or unable to argue with you. Don't waste your time and energy trying to argue with people who will not or cannot argue" (97-98).
Right Reasons for Argumentation: "To use reasoning for any purpose other than attaining the truth is to misuse it...In the ideal debate, the primary purpose of the debaters is not to triumph over each other, but rather by their combined efforts to ferret out the truth as it pertains to the issues being debated" (97).
Rules for Forming a Good Argument: "The ideal argument allows people to see that something is true on the basis of evidence. The only force that an honest arguer wants to use is the force of reason. The alternative to moving people by force of reason is doing so by raw power. People can be forced to do what they do not want to do, but they cannot be forced to think what they want to think. They cannot be coerced into accepting what is true. In argument, coercion invariably backfires. People will accept the truth only when they can do so freely, having seen for themselves that what is presented as true is in fact true" (115-116).
Don't Use Easy Ridicule to Dismiss an Argument: "To be sure, there are arguments that are comically inept and therefore deserving of laughter. But even in those cases it is better, rather than dismissing an argument with easy ridicule, to take the time to show how and why it fails as an argument" (123).
Find Root Causes: "Sometimes our failure to find the root causes of things is attributable to simple laziness. We don't push the investigation far enough. Other times, it is impatience which works against us. We are so pressed by the need to 'do something' that we settle for quick-fixes, stop gap measures, while the basic problem remains essentially undisturbed" (35).
Use Clear and Truthful Language: "If we consistently use language that serves to distort reality, we can eventually come to believe our own twisted rhetoric" (19).
Avoid Contradictions by Being Truthful: "The avoidance of contradiction, therefore, is simply the avoidance of falsehood" (29).
Clear Communication:"It is impossible to have clear communication without clear thinking. How can I give you a clear idea of something if it is not first clear in my mind" (14)?
Overall, this was a very helpful book and I am happy to recommend it. It is readable, clear, and will prove, I trust, to be a benefit to anyone who desires to think well.
Short...but very good..!!.......2007-04-01
This is the kind of book that you can read in a few hours and you can say later that you really learned a lot from it. The book is clear , it has good examples, it goes to the point, it is very good reading material and you get the basics of logical thinking. I repeat: the basics...It is a very good introduction..for the one thing that we as people need the most: critical thinking. The minute you start to question everything with some method or logic...you start to know the world and to understand how they play with your mind....and how they use you. And I hope I do not have to explain who "they" are...I'm sure you know.
Nourishment for the Mind.......2007-02-24
I think that this book is wonderful, especially for practical application and the layperson. I plan on studying Logic formally and I have read one other book on it by Jamie Whyte and I also have a textbook on the subject (I have not fully read it yet).
In a nutshell, this book practically and effectively sums up much of what one needs to know and perfect through practice in order to live logically and to succeed. The book not only explicitly illustrates the incorporated techniques of logical argument (provided with examples -- although a bit more would have been nice), but it also demonstrates common logical fallacies chock-full in our daily lives. Logic could be appreciated by anyone as it is the mechanics, if you will, of reasoned thought and therefore is applicable to nearly any one subject.
I highly recommend this book!
Well written, concise, logically presented.......2007-02-21
This book well-covers the basics of logical reasoning. The book is well-organized, going through the basic mentality and axioms of logic before explaining how arguments are constructed. The explanations are explained with ample illustrating examples. The sections on faulty argumentation make much more sense after reading the premises for logical reasoning and its methodology.
McInerny also touches upon the requirements of weighing the strength of evidence in non-deductive reasoning. I enjoyed this inclusion, for that topic is very applicable to daily life and is not always presented in books that focus on the abstract formula of arguments.
McInerny does not convolute his prose with unnecessary tangents. This book does well in introducing the topic to a neophyte, and would serve as a good reference book for anyone.
moderately helpful book.......2006-09-20
this primer on informal logic is fairly good, and it's worth reading, but there are a few places wherein the logic is a little bit sloppy, but again, overall it is worth the price and it does have generally helpful concepts.
Book Description
No More Christian Nice Guy showed you the eye-opening truth about Christian men becoming more and more passive, rarely recognizing how often they let themselves get walked on, and how being a doormat hurts their marriage and chances of getting married. Note: When you submit to what other people think you should be, you are seen as a Nice Guy. But Jesus wasn't a Nice Guy. He told it like it was. Jesus was a Good Guy. He was a real man. Always being agreeable only opens the door to opportunities to be lied to and manipulated by others. It's true; nice guys aren't always nice. This Study Guide dives deeper into the Nice Guy problem, helping you discover the true biblical model of manhood. Each chapter contains several exercises to help you move from passivity to assertiveness, plus a bevy of bonus information, including additional help for single Christian Nice Guys, which provides insights into the Christian Nice Guy problem not found in No More Christian Nice Guy. So join the Good Guy Rebellion and start living your life as a Christian Good Guy. Suggestions for small-group leaders make this suitable for use in groups or on your own.
Customer Reviews:
Book Review.......2007-09-30
Excellent book on how a Christian man should behave in relationships with other people in the church and with the world.
No More Christian Nice Guy.......2007-08-01
This book is must for every man and I would dare stretch it to teenage boys as well. The author is very inciteful and struck a chord with me in each topic. The book is well written, humorous, touching and above all, very practical. I am getting tired of the weak, feminized portrayal of Christ and I am glad this book is out there to help counteract that false image.
Must Read for Christians.......2007-06-27
"No More Christian Nice Guy" is a book that every Christian should read. Paul Coughlin skillfully explains how Christians often mistake being "nice" with being good, and how this mistake particularly harms Christian men and their impact on society.
"No More Christian Nice Guy" helped me identify a problem which had bothered me for a long time but which I couldn't articulate. Coughlin expertly notes how the problem of associating "niceness" with goodness turns men off to Christianity, turns Christian men off to church and further growth in knowing God, and all but forces Christian men to repress their natural, masculine attributes in favor of becoming worthless objects of lifeless passivity.
Some of the resultant injuries of "niceness" that Coughlin addresses are as follows.
The Christian promotion of "niceness" has led to the Church sinfully feminizing Jesus (Chapter 2: Jesus the Bearded Woman). Chapter 5 (How Being "Nice" Ruins Love and Marriage) shows how "nice" men are not good for men OR for women. Chapter 7 (Confused to Vilified: Our Culture's View of Masculinity) details how secular society is just as guilty as the Church (actually, even more so) in demanding that men be "nice" through its vilification of everything masculine. Chapter 6 (We're Men, Not Eunuchs) comments on how the emphasis for Christian men to be "nice" has led to Christians denigrating a man's natural sexual desires. (Chapter 6 also notes how many Christians would oppose parts of the Bible, such as the "Song of Songs", were they written today!). Chapter 8 (Nice Guy, Naïve Guy: How Being Nice Hurts Men at Work) explores how Christian encouragement for men to be "nice" turns them into doormats for others to use (as opposed to men who will stand up for themselves). And Chapters 9 and 10 (Masculinity: The Journey From Nice Guy to Good Guy, Parts 1 and 2 respectively) examine how Christian emphasis for men to be "nice" (instead of "mean" or assertive) stands in the way of Christian men being GOOD and Godly.
There are points in the book where Coughlin probably writes a bit too much about his own life (to the point where it nearly turns autobiographical at times) and this detracted somewhat from the main theme. Nevertheless, I still immensely enjoyed "No More Christian Nice Guy" and I highly recommend it to Christians everywhere--men and women alike.
Amazing book.......2007-03-24
As a mother of 3 boys I was interested to read this book based on hearing about the group Godmen. Some of the reviews say the book is hard-hitting and 'in your face'. I didn't feel that way at all. I saw it more as a plea. I even cried a few times while reading it. I'm not into self-help books AT ALL and this one, along with Being A Christian Without Being An Idiot, are the first two I've bought in probably 10 years. I read them both cover to cover and feel I've gained important insight into raising my sons to be godly men.
I've been frustrated for years by the so-called male leadership in the church. They do an okay job but seem hampered in some way. Then I hear men talk about the 'feminization of the church'. That offends me because it sounds like a cop out. If woman are leading it's because men refuse to, and it smacks of the whole 'the woman made me do it' line by Adam in the garden. LOL
The book helped me understand how this came about and makes me more empathetic to men. :) I'm thrilled to see men becoming more masculine and rising up to live out their God-given roles and pray this book makes it into the hands of the suffering men out their who lead their lives in quiet desperation.
Wake-up Call for Nice Guys!.......2007-01-24
Paul Coughlin has penned an excellent book based on personal experience. If you grew up in church as a young boy, you were taught and encouraged to "be nice". Even at the expense of justice, we were instructed to "grin and bear it", etc. Coughlin makes a case that Christian men need not to be "nice", but to be "good"; to be men of integrity who speak up when it is merited. He points to Jesus, who would never make it in the church today because he was firm and spoke his mind. In other words, he was not always nice. This is a must read for all nice guys!
Book Description
A Girl's Guide to Growing Up
Being a girl is a lot of fun most of the time. But some days are really difficult. Dealing with a body that is changing before everyone's eyes, increasing amounts of schoolwork, boys, other girls, friends, makeup, clothing, parents. Wow! Life as a preteen or early-teen girl is tough, and that's why every girl has questions about growing up. Fortunately, now you have some help.
Girls: What's So Bad About Being Good? is your new guide to surviving those trying times and feeling good about yourself in the end. Inside, a mom and her daughter—who's about the same age as you—team up to help you figure out what's really important in life and how you can become the person you want to be. You'll find some great ways to handle emotional issues and deal with daily crises as you discover how to:
·Develop a positive self-image
·Maintain healthy relationships with parents, friends, and boys
·Deal with peer pressure, bullies, brats, and violence
·Dream big and turn those dreams into reality!
·And so much more!
"A lively, relevant, and valuable resource that can not only empower but also help girls keep open the lines of communication with the important adults in their lives."
—Marty Evans, national executive director, Girl Scouts of the USA
"A great book for preteen girls! The best of both worlds with the smarts of a mom and a daughter!"
—Karen Bokram, editor in chief, Girls' Life magazine
Customer Reviews:
great book for and "interesting" time.......2007-01-09
What a great book this is - I bought it for my daughter who is at an age where she has lots of questions - some easy to ask, some not. This book has provided a save place for those questions along with work sheets to get her "journaling". I have and will recommend this book to my friends with daughters this age (11+).
Highly recommended.......2004-05-27
I have been reviewing books for girls who are in their preteen years. The interactive book I like best is "Girls: What's so Bad about being Good?" (Authors: Harriet Mosatche and 12 year-old daughter Liz Lawner). The format is teen friendly and inviting. A wide range of topics will captivate young readers. The book is written in a format that will guide and encourage young women to make positive choices. Highly recommended.
Excellent Book.......2001-08-18
This book has everything I was looking for. The best part was that the information was down to earth, stuff I can actually use in my life. When I had my copy at camp, all the other girls kept grabbing it so they could read it too!
Read this Great Advice Book.......2001-07-07
I just finished reading this book, and really loved the fact that you can get advice from a mom and a daughter. The book is funny, has lots of stuff to do, and has loads of interesting and very useful information. The authors really understand kids my age.
Book Description
All human beings have spontaneous needs for happiness, self-understanding, and love. In Feeling Good: The Science of Well Being, psychiatrist Robert Cloninger describes a way to coherent living that satisfies these strong basic needs through growth in the uniquely human gift of self-awareness. The scientific findings that led Dr. Cloninger to expand his own views in a stepwise manner during 30 years of research and clinical experience are clearly presented so that readers can consider the validity of his viewpoint for themselves. The principles of well-being are based on a non-reductive scientific paradigm that integrates findings from all the biomedical and psychosocial sciences. Reliable methods are described for measuring human thought and social relationships at each step along the path of self-aware consciousness. Practical mental exercises for stimulating the growth of self-awareness are also provided. The methods are supported by data from brain imaging, genetics of personality, and longitudinal biopsychosocial studies. Feeling Good: The Science of Well-Being will be of value to anyone involved in the sciences of the mind or the treatment of mental disorders. It will also interest theologians, philosophers, social scientists, and lay readers because it provides contemporary scientific concepts and language for addressing the perennial human questions about being, knowledge, and conduct.
Customer Reviews:
Inspiring.......2007-03-26
'Feeling Good' by Dr. C. Robert Cloninger makes a profound, courageous and exhilarating contribution to modern day understandings of the disciplines of Psychiatry and Psychology.
Integrating state of the art ideas from the fields of psychology, psychopathology, philosophy, psychophysiology, quantum physics, genetics, developmental theory, and communication technology, Dr. Cloninger makes a conceptual leap in the science of Well-Being, moving the science of the Mind into the 21st century.
This prophetic book not only educates the reader about the necessary paradigm shift for the proper practise of psychiatry but also inspires and challenges each of us to contemplate our own consciousness, happiness and life in a new and essential way.
A Refreshing Addition to Mental Health Literature.......2004-09-17
After spending some time reflecting on a statement that would do justice to this work, I realized that nothing I could say would be as well put as what I found in the following reviews:
"A remarkably ambitious and scholarly masterpiece from a gifted psychiatrist with a deep understanding of human nature. By weaving a fascinating tapestry of philosophy, psychology, mystical experience, the latest neurobiology and genetics, Cloninger has produced fresh and practical insights into the human mind."-Frederick K. Goodwin, M.D., Former Director, National Institute of Mental Health, Host of public radio's The Infinite Mind
"In this audacious new book, Robert Cloninger provides a rare synthesis of the biological, the psychosocial, and the spiritual. The author manages to be comprehensive in scope, scholarly in method, yet accessible in his prose style. He forges a new integrative understanding of what it means to be human in a provocative and imaginative tour de force."-Glen O. Gabbard, M.D., Brown Foundation Chair of Psychoanalysis and Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine
"Fasten your mindbelts and get ready for a heady paradigm shift as you accompany Cloninger on his epiphanic and still-evolving voyage toward understanding the human mind. Fearlessly embracing complex adaptive systems as one element in his brilliant synthesis of psychosocial and neuroscience approaches, spiced by Eastern and Western philosophies, and unashamed by religious inspiration, this book will stretch your mind."-I.I. Gottesman, Ph.D., Hon. FRCPsych Bernstein Professor in Adult Psychiatry, University of Minnesota
"Cloninger has written a book of startling originality. His imaginative, integrative, and wide-ranging scholarship offers us a view of human nature and mental health never seen before."-George E. Vaillant, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Author of Aging Well and other books
"An intellectual tour de force by a creative pioneer in the study of personality, this important book lays out for us a comprehensive, thought-provoking proposal for a science of well-being. As such it has broad implications for an exciting integration of the natural and social sciences, the end result of which should be a much needed improvement in our understanding of the human condition in an increasingly complex and challenging world."-Marcus E. Raichle, M.D., Professor of Radiology, Neurology, and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine
a landmark on the path of well-being.......2004-09-15
This book was exceedingly enjoyable to read. Right from the beginning, readers of Feeling Good: The Science of Well-Being are whisked away on an unprecedented philosophical and scientific oddysey. Beginning with a brief overview of philosophy, Dr. Cloninger shows how certain beliefs on the nature of being, knowledge, and conduct, which provide the basis for his science of well-being, are confirmed by current scientific thought. Examining the ideas of those that he calls "positive philosophers," Dr. Cloninger points to how modern science is beginning to validate the worldviews held by these thinkers, and suggests that what allowed them such wisdom and penetrating insight was not merely their intellectual ability, but rather their intuitive capacity.
Dr. Cloninger takes us through his initial 2 theories of personality and shows how neither his biological model nor his cognitive model of personlity (nor contemporary theories of personality for that matter) are comprehensive enough to explain many fundamental human experiences such as: creativity, self-awareness, free-will, and intuition. Inspired by these limitations he conceived his model of coherence which points to human self-awareness as the path towards well-being. He describes the importance of rational intuition vs. the inadequacy of reason and cognitive strategies for acquiring freedom and happiness; then he dares the reader to inquire into whether it is possible "to learn to share the intuitions of a wise person." Integrating recent scientific discoveries from biology, genetics, physics, and neurology with the philosophical and moral truths from the likes of Plato, St. Augustine, Spinoza, Hegel, and Gandhi, Dr. Cloninger's Feeling Good is a book that is certain to become landmark on the path of well-being.
The wellness of well-being.......2004-09-02
In his book Cloninger seeks to integrate psychology, sociology, genetics, physics, and the humanities by illustrating how each contributes to the knowledge of being human as it pertains to subjective well-being. In order to accomplish his laudatory goal, he brings his own intuitive wisdom and important disciplines to his table to convince the reader that not only is a science of health and well-being possible, but vastly overdue. Indeed, without a science of well being, how is it possible to have a valid science of illness or pathology?
Perhaps the most integrative concept Cloninger employs is that of self-awareness of one's own consciousness. His second greatest concern is to collapse dualistic systems into coherent and unitary ones, only thought to be dualistic because of our Western manner of bifurcating the world.
Though some readers may not be able to follow the nuances of each discipline, the thesis of his book is never lost, namely, that self-aware consciousness is both an end in itself and a means to life satisfaction, human authenticity, and a better social good. For Cloninger you cannot have subjective well-being without social well-being.
Several years ago the American Psychological Association published in their major journal three separate issues on "Positive Psychology." The Jan. 2000 issue of American Psychology was devoted to "Happiness, Excellence, and Optimal Human Functioning." A year later the same journal dedicated issues to "Positive Psychology" and "Creativity." Publishing three separate issues in their house organ indicates A.P.A.'s awareness of the urgency to address these almost singularly important issues about the meaning of health. Cloninger has gone quite a few steps further ahan these A.P.A. publications by synthesizing vast amounts of loosely related data from numerous "stand-alone" academic disciplines, never before attempted.
A revealing and well-researched book.......2004-05-29
This book has helped me to explore the different influences that affect our happiness in life, and it has clarified what used to only be vague intuitions for me. Clearly Dr. Cloninger has spent most of his life exploring the fundamental issues that reach us all. I think this book gives us a preview of a new approach that many people will soon use in art and science.
Customer Reviews:
Required reading for today's highly pressured teens.......2007-05-31
Perfectionism: What's Bad About Being Too Good? Is a well written and accessible self-help book for teens. It speaks directly to the reader in a conversational tone. Chapters are organized into ten sections, with headings such as, "Why People Become Perfectionists", "What Perfectionism Does to Your Mind", and "When and How to Get Help Coping".
The book contains a quick and easy self-assessment quiz to see how serious a problem perfectionism might be for the individual. A table illustrates the differences between the pursuit of excellence (a healthy desire to achieve) and perfectionism (unhealthy striving for perfection). Quotes from real teens are interspersed throughout the text, along with comments from well known historical and contemporary figures.
Teens can learn to recognize their perfectionist tendencies, understand why these thoughts and actions are ultimately detrimental, and discover how to change their attitude and behavior. There's quite a lot of information packed into this 123 page guide! I would not recommend it for kids younger than about 12, as there are entries dealing with violence, the dangers of eating disorders, and self-mutilation. Examples of celebrities who died as a result of their eating disorders, and plain talk about the practice of "cutting" are probably best discussed with a parent after reading.
I like the practical advice about balancing work and play. The advice here is meaningful and easy to follow. It's also interesting to note that some very famous thinkers were unhappy people who did not consider themselves to be successful. A quote form Leonardo DaVinci sums up his feelings, "I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have." Marie Curie, who discovered radium, once said, "I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done."
Other topics addressed include overcommitment, setting reasonable standards, how parents may contribute to perfectionism, and how procrastination relates to perfectionism. The tips for procrastinators are real life solutions that can make a difference.
The final section includes statistics on teen suicide and signs of a teen in crisis. It should be read by parents as well as teens. There are lists of relevant organizations and publications at the end of each chapter. Web sites may not be accurate, as the book was published in 1999. All of the writing and recommended readings are still completely valid and valuable.
Perfectionism.......2007-02-12
This book is a good starting point for understanding the general forces behind a perfectionist's makeup. You can use this book to identify characteristics, then narrow your research more specifically to suit your interests or queries; yet it is also detailed enough to be the only book one reads if you only want general knowledge of this personality type.
Easy reading.......2005-10-03
Sometimes it is nice to discover a self-help book that is easy to read and written in a light-hearted tone even when discussing a difficult or serious subject. This is one such book.
Aimed at teenagers, but still has good ideas.......2005-01-08
I didn't realise this book was aimed at teenagers when I borrowed it from the library... Nevertheless, it was still pretty informative for me.
Some parts of it were a bit depressing -- references to suicide, eating disorders and such (which, in some cases, are problems perfectionism might lead to). However, there were some enlightening moments for me to... It had never dawned on me that perfectionism & procrastinaton go hand-in-hand. (That's definitely me!!)
One light-bulb moment was when I read the chapter about perfectionism and relationships. It was time for me to accept there is no such thing as the "perfect partner", and that it's OK to be 90% happy most of the time, rather than expecting 100% all the time!
I would recommend this book to any perfectionists out there, whether you are a teenager or not. The 10 Tips for Procrastinators were handy too.
Awesome book for teenage perfectionists!.......1999-12-21
This was a great book for dealing with perfectionism. It has so many good ideas for helping yourself! I loved it! It truly covers all areas of the perfectionism problem.
Book Description
What is good? How can we know, and how important is it? In this book Richard Kraut, one of our most respected analytical philosophers, reorients these questions around the notion of what causes human beings to flourish--that is, what is good for us. Observing that we can sensibly talk about what is good for plants and animals no less than what is good for people, Kraut advocates a general principle that applies to the entire world of living things: what is good for complex organisms consists in the maturation and exercise of their natural powers.
Drawing on the insights of ancient Greek philosophy, Kraut develops this thought into a good-centered moral philosophy, an "ethics of well-being" that requires all of our efforts to do some good. Even what is good of a kind--good poems no less than good people--must be good for someone. Pleasure plays a key role in this idea of flourishing life, but Kraut opposes the current philosophical orthodoxy of well-being, which views a person's welfare as a construct of rational desires or plans, actual or ideal.
The practical upshot of Kraut's theory is that many common human pursuits--for riches, fame, domination--are in themselves worthless, while some of the familiar virtues--justice, honesty, and autonomy--are good for every human being.
Book Description
This guide to coaching female athletes of all ages shows how to build a team and provides invaluable advice on the differences between coaching males and females. The authors include exercises that foster teamwork and develop essential skills. They also answer parents' most common questions, such as how to tell if the coach is doing a good job and what to do if a child wants to quit. Filled with stories about the Olympic and World Cup championship teams, this useful handbook is infused throughout with DiCicco's philosophy that at every level playing soccer (or any sport) is about "playing hard, playing fair, playing to win, and having fun."
Customer Reviews:
Pretty "Good".......2003-07-03
I enjoyed this book. It was exectly what I expected, a little bit of insight, a little bit of instruction and a little bit of personal observation.
It is a great book for any new coach or someone looking to get some ideas, but it wont make you a better coach or change your life.
Good new coach book with many team building exercises.......2003-01-21
I read this book after reading Anson Dorrance's Training Soccer Champions and Lauren Gregg's The Champions Within. This book is better for the new coach who may be just forming their coaching attitudes and style. For coaches of totally dedicated Premier level teams or higher, the other two books are probably better. Catch Them Being Good shares many of the viewpoints of the other two books on building teams, motivating players, and forming strong positive attitudes. The other two books had better technical information and (perhaps because I read them first) struck me more powerfully than this one. This book was more readable for a beginning coach. I think the team building exercises are a real plus and are the biggest items I will take away from reading this book.
My Experience.......2002-12-04
Ok, this book is wonderful. Tony and Colleen put it all together for you coaches and parents out there! The truth in black and white. I am a product of this type of coaching. I was blessed to have been a soccer player who was led by Dr. Colleen Hacker at Pacific Lutheran University. She caught me being good more often than bad and I thrived mostly as a young woman but also on the soccer field. The book takes you through the life of a season from the very beginning to the end. Tony gives examples of experiences he has had with players/coaches on the US National Team. A valuable tool and great food for thought.
Amazon.com
This is not your typical ethics book: its sleek physical dimensions mirror Simon Blackburn's intelligent but unencumbered treatment of the main threats and origins of ethics. In Being Good, Blackburn addresses the fear that "ethical claims are a kind of sham" before sketching a road map of the history of ethics, its practical consequences, and its ultimate foundations. All this is an ambitious task for such a diminutive volume.
A professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge, Blackburn is one of the giants of contemporary moral theory and a trustworthy guide through its labyrinth. He prefers parsimony to complexity--helpful for readers with only a casual acquaintance with philosophy--yet he manages to avoid trivializing his subject matter. Moreover, Being Good is wonderfully enlivened by illustrations by Paul Klee, William Blake, Eugène Delacroix, Francisco de Goya, and even Vietnam War photography and cartoons. Blackburn concludes on a promising note: "If we are careful, and mature, and imaginative, and fair, and nice, and lucky, the moral mirror in which we gaze at ourselves may not show us saints. But it need not show us monsters, either." --Eric de Place
Book Description
It is not only in our dark hours that scepticism, relativism, hypocrisy, and nihilism dog ethics. Whether it is a matter of giving to charity, or sticking to duty, or insisting on our rights, we can be confused, or be paralysed by the fear that our principles are groundless. Many are afraid that in a Godless world science has unmasked us as creatures fated by our genes to be selfish and tribalistic, or competitive and aggressive. Simon Blackburn, author of the best-selling Think, structures this short introduction around these and other threats to ethics. Confronting seven different objections to our self-image as moral, well-behaved creatures, he charts a course through the philosophical quicksands that often engulf us. Then, turning to problems of life and death, he shows how we should think about the meaning of life, and how we should mistrust the sound-bite sized absolutes that often dominate moral debates. Finally he offers a critical tour of the ways the philosophical tradition has tried to provide foundations for ethics, from Plato and Aristotle through to contemporary debates.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Introduction to Ethics.......2006-05-05
Dr. Blackburn has written perhaps one of the best introductions to ethics. It is for people looking for an introduction but do not want the typical fare that you find in a textbook. It is simple and to the point with just enough needed explanation. I do not usally recommend it for my philosophy buddies but I always recommend it for those just beginning to have an interest in philosopy. I like cognitive engineering.
A "fun" Ethics book for once!.......2006-03-02
I bought this book (along with others) to study for an upcoming DSST exam. While it didn't necessarily list names of the "greats" much, it was short, sweet & to the point. I also appreciated the humor in it, & its application to modern society.
If you're looking for deep academia, this isn't it, but it's not meant to be either. Beyond that, I do recommend it...just for the fun of reading!
Gets Right to the Point.......2006-02-04
Blackburn promises a short intro to ethics, and he delivers. This is perfect for someone who wants to get right to what different ethical concepts are without reading a book on each. Perfect for the person who wants to "see it all" in one slim book, then has the opportunity to investigate it more fully to his/her heart's content. Illustrations, particularly the one of the "Accidental Napalm Attack" in Vietnam, hit home with me, as I have small children.
Wide and Short.......2005-11-03
By the standard of a book that attempts to cover this much ground in so few pages, this is a very fine effort. This is especially so when the author verges away from pure ethics and into political science, as he often does.
Admittedly, the line between these fields is a bit fuzzy, particularly in the context of ultimate justifications ("foundations"). Blackburn crosses over a line that lots of very eminent thinkers have crossed before, including Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Rousseau, Mill, Nozick, and Rawls. Still, for a work of this brevity, I would have preferred a more focused account of the controversies and schools within the narrow field of ethics.
I thought the section on challenges to ethics was the most interesting part of the book. There are many ways to dismiss, deride, and decompose ethics, and this is as good a short overview of these as I have seen -- with one exception. In my judgment, Nietzsche is not given his due in these pages.
I recommend this to anyone who desires a brief and readable introduction to ethics, particularly to anyone who wants to segue to ethics from a political science background.
Cool short book.......2005-09-22
Nice, short, and to the point book for those of us who have never taken ethics and need a "short intro". Easy to read also and kept my attention, the author makes very good points!
Books:
- The Book of Shadows : The Unofficial Charmed Companion
- The Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2007
- The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide To...)
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
- The Friars Club Encyclopaedia of Jokes: 2,000 One-Liners, Straight Lines, Stories, Gags, Roasts, Ribs and Put-Downs
- The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 8)
- The Kissing Hand
- The Little White Horse
- The Master Cleanser
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Affiliate Millions: Make a Fortune using Search Marketing on Google and Beyond
- The Glass Castle: A Memoir
- Star Wars: The Magic of Myth
- Raw Vision #31
- The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels
- The Power of One
- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
- Booklet to accompany California Income Tax Fundamentals
- The Economics of Global Turbulence
- More Than a Job: Securing Satisfying Careers for People With Disabilities
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
The Ant and the Elephant
12 Choices... That Lead to Your Success
The Power of Self-Coaching: The Five Essential Steps to Creating the Life You Want
The Age of Speed: Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now World
Kiss Theory Good Bye: Five Proven Ways to Get Extraordinary Results in Any Company
