Audiobook Books

I am a preschool teacher and use recorded stories for naptime. The children enjoyed these stories very much.

I love the read along books for my pre-reader, but this one doesn't have the chimes telling her to turn the page. She needs help every couple of minutes finding what page the recording is on.

Great book with CD. My grandaughter love it. She can pick her story. Real Disney storyline.

While my kids enjoy listening to the stories that they know so well, they get bored easily since with the voice never changing. They don't use the various character voices in telling the story as they do in other disney CDs that we have. The songs and poems that are on the CD sound silly even to my kids who always ask me to skip those--they should have used a song from the movie if they wanted to include music on the CD. I'd recommend the Disney read-along CDs over this as those use character voices and are more interesting/dramatic to listen to.

I have bought all of the CD Storybooks and they have all been well worth the money. I will continue to buy them as they become available. However the one thing that I wish they would get back to is having the stories read by the actual characters themselves. The first Winnie the Pook storybook and the storybook with Bugs Life, Monsters Inc and Toys Story 1 & 2 all were read with the voices of the actual characters. It was great! Then when I bought the new ones it's a womans voice for every character and the narrator. Guess we are just spoiled. It's still worth the money and I would recommend them to anyone who wants a little peace and quiet in the car! tee hee

This is a very peaceful and relaxing CD. However, the only thing it does is put me to sleep. I don't think that is what it is supposed to do.

Out of the three CD's in the regression series I only find one to be really useful. That one is Spritual Practice through Regression (see my review on that one under the title). All three share many features but that one is by far the most satisfying. Since they all have similar relaxation exercise that include messages of health and wellbeing and contain two meditations each I won't report on that section here. If you would like to know more about the relaxation part of the CD please read the first part of my review of his "Spiritual Progress Through Regression".

The problem with this CD is that you probably brought it because you wanted a regression CD. In truth only one of the two programs on the Cd deals with regression and very briefly. There is far too much new age "love" talk and not enough useful regression techniques.

Here is a description of what is on this CD.

This first exercise did not work for me at all. After the above relaxation exercise, he tells you that you are an eternal being who exists beyond time and all negative emotions. He says that you may see colors which are healing and relaxing. You may feel others around you and are never alone. The music at this point is a kind of choral ohh/ahh which is quite pleasant, but the things he says are too trite and "new age-ie" for my taste. He uses phrases like "fill yourself with love" and harps on this theme.

He then asks you to see yourself at all ages and create images of yourself which you bring into your heart where you are safe. This didn't resonate with me. He goes on to have you include family and loved ones and then give love to anyone who needs it. I found this part problematic as relaxation and thinking about people who are problematic do not go together. If you are having family problems, didn't have the best parents or give too much to the people in your life, it can also be exhausting and depressing.

He now tells you that a wise and loving being joins you in the garden that he leads you to in the first meditation (see my other review) and you can communicate with it and ask questions or make requests. He waxes on about love being beyond time and space and loving yourself. At this point I had lost whatever calm I felt from the beginning of the CD and was becoming more and more resistant to listening to him. He then wakes you with a one to ten count.

Meditation Two.
Again we have the relaxation exercise.
He tells you to go back to childhood. At least this time he doesn't request a happy memory as he did on another CD. For some of us that is hard to find. This is better as you can work with anything that comes up. He asks you to float above the scene and use all of your senses to make this scene real. He takes you back to infancy and again asks for a memory. Though his request that I see my birth on the other CD worked well, I had no memories of this time at all and I found that having to wait for him to go on disrupted the meditation. I was waiting for him to take me back to birth and then before birth but here he takes a different path.

He then brings you back to the garden instead of regressing you from the childhood state. This disrupts the scene I was hovering over completely and to me any thought of being in an altered state. Now you are asked to look into a mirror that contains many mirrors and see yourself in different dress at different times in history. This is a good regression exercise and for the first time I found myself starting to get some interesting images from the regression. He then instructs you to allow yourself to be pulled by one of the images as he counts backwards. He instructs you to let the image help you remove blocks or unhappiness caused by that time. He then asks you to look at your clothes and the world around you and make note of everything you can see including the date. He then tells you that you can go backwards and forwards to any point in time and find answers to questions. This part was what I bought the CD for but it was very short. He goes much too fast, but in the end doesn't say enough. While he asks some useful questions, it would have been much better if he had worked more closely with the listener to slowly uncover subtle details in the surroundings and guide them in uncovering any strong emotional images that might reveal more clues about each lifetime. Unfortunately the CD ends shortly after with a quick count back to wakefulness.

Brian has the perfect voice for this kind of thing. This CD is part of a series of 3. I have all 3. I love them all.

Brian is a graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School. Part of his private practice is in hypnotic regression therapy. The back of the CD cover states that this CD (in meditation) guides you to childhood memories in this lifetime, then to visualize yourself in many mirrors of light, in different and possibly ancient times and places. The concept is to help you discover the blocks and obstacles that hinder your peace and joy in the present time. The cover also states that the CD includes positive affirmations to help you access the peace and joy within yourself an you are also given the opportunity to contact a wise and loving (spirit) guide. (Always good to have friends on the other side.)

I have tried this CD several times and my conscious mind goes out fast on this one. (I zonk out and my subconscious takes over.) With meditation or subliminal programming CDs, I believe that they work on the subconscious level, even if you fall asleep. Even if you think that is baloney, then at least I had a very peaceful sleep.

I recently attended a conference where Dr. Weiss was a featured speaker, along with John Holland and Candy Diaz. All 3 of them were great. That conference was actually where I bought the 3 CDs, but they are less expensive at Amazon. I continue to be very pleased with the HayHouse authors I have found. Brian Weiss is one of several.

As far as meditation tapes go, Dr. Weiss' talks way too fast for me. This may be an individual thing. I returned all three that I had gotten because of the speed of the guided imagery on this one cd. I was sorry to do that, as I was really looking forward to meditating with them.

They may not be too fast for you, so I do not want to discourage you from trying them out. Meditation is an individual personal practice as to what one likes. So go for it...your experience may be very different than mine.

Just started using this program and have two comments. The process is very slow but it provides very good verbal break down of each word so it's easy to hear and understand.

I am working my way through the CD's in my car and so far they are just what I needed. I may end up purchasing the next inthe series after I finish these.

I like the recording very much. But without any written material, it's very difficult to figure out the pronunciation and spelling of words. It's not a complete course without written material but can be used to supplement other learning methods.

This CD set is a great way to receive a simple exposure to the musicality (?) of the Italian language. The Italian language has a flow to it, like music. It is to Spanish what an Irish brogue is to English, if that helps. This CD set will not make you an expert by any stretch of the imagination. But it will get your ears and tongue accustomed to Italian, which is a good thing. I bought it and used it to get my feet wet in Italian and have since gone on to speak the language with mild fluency. It's great for the morning commute, in the car, listening to Italian. It goes at a good pace and tests your short-term memory along the way. There is no background music or sound effects, either.

I thought this was a great program. It focused on practical things first like saying "I don't understand" and "I speak English" and finished up with "I'll have dinner/drinks with you at nine o'clock". I liked the format, often the narrator asked you in English to say things and then you had a chance to do it in Italian before the speaker gave you the response so you weren't just using repetition.

As other reviewers have noted, it would be nice to have a booklet with the words for review... I spent two lessons not sure I was hearing a certain verb correctly. I have had a lot of Spanish lessons so found a lot of similarities between Italian and Spanish and the format of their sentences and conjugation of verbs so perhaps the CDs were good for me because I wasn't exactly starting from scratch.

I have since purchased the Italian I course to further work on my Italian. It should be noted that the 5 CDs (i.e. first 10 lessons) in the Basic Italian are also the first 5 CDs out of the 16 CDs in the Italian I. So if you think you'd like to learn past the "I'll go out to dinner with you", you might want to just buy Italian I and skip the Basic Italian.

I guess with all the hype, I expected more. At times it was a very boring read.

I couldn't believe how uncreative this story was. After hearing gushing praise from you know who I expected something better...much better. I found this story boring and predictable. I'm offended when an author can't create drama in a female story line other than repeatedly raping her. It doesn't pass as depth, drama or creative...and it doesn't get a free pass from this reader. Don't bother waiting for it to get better.

I really enjoy listening to audio books to and from work and was really looking forward to this one. I had asked for it at Christmas because there were so many rave reviews, it was a longer book and this would keep me involved for some time. There were so many times I almost gave up on the book and listening to the last CD, I realized how relieved I was to be done with it. Although there was finally some positive experiences for the characters towards the last remaining quarter of the book, the reader is in for a long haul of poorly developed characters that had no depth and the brutalization of them throughout their history. I couldnt fall in love with any of the them, couldnt feel nor sympathize with any of their passions or pursuits, basically had a hard time caring. It is really hard to know about a character who answers a question with "Yes", but it is described as saying Yes in an elaborate way... If I were playing a drinking game like "High Bob" that we played many years ago in college, I would have ample opportunities for a swig if we took a gulp every time a charater thought to themselves "and he/she realized she was about to die". GEEEEZZZZ! I was absolutely put off by the very brutal and violant acts that were played out in such detail... unfortunately, this is the only place where details seemed to be so graphic. Maybe this is unfair. There is some detail with building the church. But I was left thinking...so who cares? Unless you can already visualize what it takes to build a church, the dragged out details are lost on you.

When I finally came to the conclusion that I was to read the Pillars of the Earth for my summer reading, I was rather skeptical that a near thousand page book, dealing with the construction of a cathedral could keep me inspired enough to read it. I was ineffably mistaken.

Ken Follet introduces the book in a scene that feels abruptly tossed at us, but is nevertheless a phenomenal foundation to the plot. Follet chooses to write the chapters, deviating from character to character. By the time you finish the first chapter, your enticed by one of the main characters, Tom. You simply cannot wait to know what follows the end of chapter, so naturally you'll eagerly begin to read the subsequent chapter and notice that the perspective has changed to another character. "What's this?" I couldn't help thinking angrily. I continued turning the pages, impatiently waiting for mention of the character that I just formed a bond with, and to my surprise, I quickly realized the current character is just as eloquent written and genuinely admirable as the previous. Follet uses this tactic throughout the novel that you ultimately come to understand and appreciate all the characters on some deep level, from Tom to Prior Phillip, William of Hamley, Aliena, Jack, Richard, Ellen, and Waleran Bigod.

The plot also becomes as gratifying in its authenticity as it's characters. The beautifully vivid world of 12th Century England becomes as genuine as today's society is to us. After reading a copious number of pages, it takes some effort to snap back to our 21th century society. Follet balances, although some may argue, the unfortunate events and the elations of the novel perfectly. It's the sorrows that characters experience that give us such powerful, jovial feeling when something finally goes right. Although it stands as the basis of the novel, the Cathedral of Kingsbridge stands for so much more. It's what continuously caused admiration and despair, till Jack's motivational ardor constructed the most magnificent cathedral in all of England.

The only negative thing that I can bring up about the novel is the incessant malevolent acts Bishop Waleran commits. His never ending plots to destroy Prior Phillip, although understandable to some level, become tiring by the last 20 pages of the book. I understand it as his personality, but it's terribly infuriating when the man simply won't quit. All the better I suppose, for the satisfaction of the conclusion.

Far from the trite novel that I was expecting, The Pillars of the Earth has actually given me insight on certain inscrutable things about life. I will inevitably, I'd think, always admire the characters and words descended me within another world. This truly is epic.

I'm only part way into reading this book - but it's one of those that I can't put down. Not only is it well written, but it is also a fascinating study of the period and a well developed cast of characters. I'm thoroughly enjoying Pillars of the Earth.

received everything on time. the cd wasn't as good as i expected but the service was awesome!!! good quality products.

I've purchased a few meditation recordings over the years. This one is by far the most helpful. I've used it for myself and in groups. It is excellent.

I always enjoy listening to Dr. Kabat-Zinn. This CD presents a a very good reason to try mindful meditation. Kabat-Zinn has a very pleasing voice with easy concepts to relate to. If you are looking for actual meditations this is not the CD for you, but he definitely gives you a good place to start the practice of meditation with the breath. Highly recommend.

I am new to meditation, but I found this to be very helpful. His voice is very soothing and the information very helpful. I loved it!

Very good stuff. It reminds all of us how important it is to stay centered and balanced. It's helped me to begin embracing the moments of change in my own life rather than fighting against them.

I read a lot of thriller/mysteries, and I consider this book one of the best. It was coincidental that part of the plot line focused on financial corruption and accountability, considering the current financial meltdown in the U.S. The book touched upon various subjects: financial journalism, libel, feminism, nazis, hate crimes, family sagas, business ventures and disappearances. The point of a mystery is to draw you in as a reader and keep you guessing as you fervently turn the pages. The novel exceeded my expectations and I look forward to the second novel in this trilogy.

While it took close to one hundred pages to get into this book, I am so very glad that I stuck with it. Yes, translations can be clunky, yes, the cast of characters was huge, yes, it was long. It was worth every one of those minor faults and more. It took all those pages and all those characters to create such a marvelous mysterious drama. This author was obviously genius to keep all these plot lines and characters in check. I, too, regret he will not provide more than this trilogy.

Whew! This book took me forever to get through! It became a chore and then a challenge, then it actually became interesting...then it fell flat.

The story begins very slowly with a cryptic storyline about large scale financial crime and the journalist who tries to expose it. There are lots of names of, presumably, local publications, European businesses, and other institutions that Europeans are apparently familiar with. This meant nothing to me and made it hard to trudge through.

However, silly me, the book isn't about mobsters and Swedish mafia. It's about something else. Hmmm... It takes over 1/4 of the book to actually get to the main story line. Hmmm...

Interesting characters are introduced in great detail and then they disappear from the story. Story lines are started and abandoned. There is an inordinate amount of detail about meaningless things--the inside of a cabin, how someone is dressed, a character's apartment even though this has no bearing on the story, etc.--and yet much of this detail ends in dead end tangent after dead end tangent. It was frustrating and hard to make sense of. After 100 pages, it became downright boring.

Based on the statistics quoted at the beginning of each chapter, the book is centered on the theme of women being used and abused by men. It's a great set up for a story, and yet, the theme is so lost in the details that I had a hard time remembering this.

The main character, Mikael Blomqvist, is an investigative journalist and all around good guy. If the book is supposed to be about men who are hatefully aggressive towards women, Blomqvist is played as the direct opposite. He seems to be played as the kind and gentle, but hapless sex toy of strong women throughout the book. His role with women is to be kind and conversational, to respond to their sexual advances with mild surprise, a conjuring of the appropriate physical response, and because he's such a nice guy, he has sex with them, each and every one, over and over. What a guy! Like Gomer Pyle on Viagra... Thankfully, the detailed descriptions stop short of the bedroom scenes.

Finally, at the halfway point, the true story line appears and it's a good story. Mikael Blomqvist proves to be intelligent and dedicated to the job at hand. The mystery surrounding a young woman who disappeared without a trace back in the 60's is Blomqvist's adventure, shared with a skinny goth girl with a serious emotional disability, a photographic memory and an aptitude for hacking computers. It's a good mystery and it plays out extremely well. I enjoyed this part of the book. The mystery, the suspects, the new evidence emerging after 35 years, the hunt, the chase, the rescue. It's all there. Very well done.

Once the mystery is solved, however, the original story line is picked up again and the book crawls to a feeble and flat ending. After wading through the first half of the book, I was rewarded with a terrific mystery, only to be let down again at the end. It felt like it was supposed to go somewhere, but there was no where to go. Did the author die before finishing? Honestly, this book could have been 250 pages long, rather than 465, and it would have been glorious. As is stands, I'm left confused as to why this book was declared a blockbuster in Europe. I'd like to believe that something was lost in the translation from Swedish to English. I was so glad to be finished that I couldn't bring myself to care about the information on the author. Hopefully this isn't the best this author has to offer.

The 100-page prologue almost did me in. Because the book had so much positive hype I slogged on, hoping the book would redeem itself. Since our main character is a journalist specializing in the world of finance, the reader is subjected to a very dull, painstaking description of the business world of Sweden. Yawn! Then the "cast of thousands" is introduced. Confusion!

But just when I was ready to pack it in at the end of the prologue, the storytelling improves dramatically. It is almost as if another author takes over the book. I think the prologue material would have been better served up in flashbacks.

The title features the most interesting character in the book: Lisbeth, the girl with the dragon tattoo. Her mind may work differently, but ultimately it is a gift that allows her to see more clearly than the conventional thinkers around her. Unfortunately the view she sees is the dirty underbelly of Swedish culture. I can't wait to read more about her in the rest of the trilogy.

I think the glimpse into Sweden, a milieu I have rarely encountered in novels, was the second most interesting thing about the book. The author skillfully transported me to Hedeby Island where the landscape is an integral part of the story.

In spite of the dreary prologue, the rest of the book was an unexpected romp, full of plot developments that were true surprises. For this reason I give it four stars.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is one of the best reads so far this year. Like the books I've read by other non-American authors it is wordy. Reading Larsson's work was for me similar to reading Umberto Eco. Translated works can take just a bit of commitment, but like Eco's work, Larsson's novel is worth it. Then, of course, there are the Scandinavian names and the constant reference to the Kronor, the Swedish unit of money. For me none of this was a problem, it's just something you deal with when you read a translated work. Trust me, in the end the story makes it all worthwhile.

I also have to admit that I had a real difficult time getting through the early stages of the novel. Until I reached page 100, or there-a-bouts, I really thought that perhaps I'd made a huge mistake and thrown away $24.95 (less the discount). Well, I needn't have worried.

The Girl delivers on every level. Well written, with an intelligent plot that will keep you coming back, wonderful pacing, and great writing style, Larsson treats the reader to a memorable experience that will linger even after you turn the last page. Then there are the memorable characters such as Mikael Blomkvist, a magazine reporter and editor who is on his way to jail for supposedly printing slanderous material on a wealthy industrialist, or Lisabeth Salander, a troubled, tattooed and pierced young woman who is much more resourceful that her guardians or the courts are aware. Only her part-time employer Dragon Armansky appreciates Salander's research talents.

A nearly forty year old disappearance (murder????) of Harriet Vanger, a sixteen year old member of a wealthy Swedish family serves as the center piece of The Girl. There are other plot elements including greed, abuse of women on the most personal levels possible, dysfunctional families, and the list goes on. I won't give a way the ending, don't want to be a spoiler here, but suffice it to say that you'll be glad that you stick with the book until the end.

The sad news is that Larsson died before The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was ever published. The really good news is that there are two additional books he finished before his death. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first in the Millennium series. The Girl Who Played with Fire which is due out in January, 2009, and Castles in the Sky will complete the set. An unfinished fourth part will remain unfinished.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a terrific read. You won't be sorry you picked it up.

A friend and collegue called me from a, "Speed of Trust" workshop, and said that I had to read this book - it was so great. My friend is a decent writer himself, and I trust his judgement. However, he did not actually read the book. He attended the workshop. From that I conclude that the workshop and concepts are probably good, which is why I gave it three stars instead of two. Nevertheless, I could not get past the poor writing. I struggled through the first two chapters and had to set the book aside.

This book is very applicable in every relationship that you have. Trust affects not only business, but also your personal relationships with your family and especially with your own self worth and self confidence. This is truly a profound book. It really goes hand-in-hand with another book I read called "The Book on Mind Management" by Dennis Deaton.

After I read this book, I gave it to the head of our department. He wants to meet to discuss using it in our department. Sorry I don't have time to write more.

It's a very healthy, specific, adequate and thorough work.
My psychological training has been more towards analysis, geshtalt and other therapeutic branches, but books like this one make me think more into cognitive-behavioral way, and for good. They make a lot of sence for sane individuals who are eager to work in order to improve their quality of life.
And it IS easy to follow.

It's been a thought-provoking and interesting book so far. It asks a lot of questions of me that dig pretty deep into my thoughts and feelings - and motivations.

Am I trustworthy? Do I have true, real honesty? Can I be relied upon? Do I surround myself with others who are trustworthy? Am I working on my ethics and honesty to be a better and happier person?

Lots of things about ourselves totally hinge on trust. I had never looked at it from these points of view before. It's an interesting subject and one that I hope will help me get more out of life.

I spend lot of time thinking about integrity and I don't think I do enough work to improve it in myself.

Perhaps now is as good a time to do so as ever!

I was apprehensive about purchasing a used audiobook--"Purpose Driven Life"--but the product arrived quickly and precisely as advertised. I would absolutely do this again; Seller outstanding.

I have always wanted to read the "Purpose Driven Life" but just never had the time to sit down and read it. Listening in the car is totally awesome. The quality and the content are wonderful. I would recommend this to everyone who travels.

He really seems like a very sincere, very energetic young man, but basicly there's nothing new here. Nothing that the Catholics, Lutherans, Prysbiterians, Nazarines, et. al. (who beleve that Jesus is God) aren't doing today (and make DO the main word). I recieved the same message from the Holy Spirit, and the Bible, before I even purchased this. He is 100% correct on one thing. There absolutely needs to be a point of commitment. But this isn't the first person to mention this. Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, John Bunyon, and C. S. Lewis at one point or another have said the same thing. If unbelievers are coming to Jesus through this book, great. I hope it sells 100 Million if it brings people to God's saving grace in Jesus Christ. This audiotape was good confirmation that I'm pointed in the right direction (and when I do get to Heaven, I'd love to jam with him. I bet we do great on "Good Shepherd").

I guess Solomon was right. There is nothing new under the sun.

I am happy that this book has inspired some folks to be better people. I just can't agree with some of what the author is suggesting in his book.

A few things...

It sounds like to me he believes in predestination. I don't...I believe that man has the free will to make his or her own good and bad decisions in his life. God gave that to us. If everything is predestinend why bother reading or listening to this book anyway??? Making my own decisions have PREDESTINED my life. I don't think that God made those decisions for me.

The author suggests that God causes thing to happen in our lives...that he uses pain and problems to serve as wake up calls. I can't blame this on God...it's a human condition for Pete's sake! Are the destitute people in Africa really bad people? NO...the circumstances are really bad. And still born babies...abortions...child abuse...wife beating...murder...are those things that God causes? Nope...we're just human.

And how about what you do with the things that God gives us? Do we give it all up to live like Jesus? That's pretty much what he suggests is part of God's plan for us. He may be right! There are places in the Bible that suggest just that. My main concern is that he mentions that saving for retirement is not in God's plan. I may be going to that bad place for it but I'm saving for my retiremnent. My circumstances allow it. I figure what I do with it after I have to stop working is the real question...I hope!

Please don't allow my critique to affect your decision to read the book or listen to this audio version. There are plenty of good things in there that can help you live a good life. There is also more content in there that I don't necessarily agree with but it's not really worth mentioning here.

Buy it and you decide...

I FIND THIS CD SERIES EXTREMELY USEFUL. I'M TEACHING A BIBLE STUDY ON THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE & FIND THIS VERSION A WONDERFUL TOOL TO RECAP EACH CHAPTER. WISH I HAD THESE CD'S THE FIRST TIME I TAUGHT ON THE SUBJECT!
GOD HAS USED RICK WARREN TO SOW WONDERFUL SEEDS IN COUNTLESS LIVES--INCLUDING MINE. I'LL BE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE NEW DIRECTION I'VE FOUND BECAUSE OF HIS WORK! THE CD'S ARE A CONSTANT ROAD COMPANION TO ME.

This is an easy read. The principles are applied within a story. Useful tool to use for improving team moral.

This was a great book, an easy read that was packed with information and suspense. After reading the fictional part of the book, I found the in depth descriptions of each dysfunction at the end of the book very important and informative. Also what makes this book so good is the fact that almost anyone in any team building situation can relate to the book. As a high school senior who is involved in sports, is involved in many activities at my school and who has a weekend job that is focused around teamwork, reading this book has been beneficial and inspirational to me. As I look back at things I have done and been involved with and also ahead to future endeavors, I realize not only the importance of teamwork but how to take the idealistic thought of a perfectly functioning team and turn it into reality. Almost anything that you do has some sort of team aspect. If you can conquer the 5 dysfunctions by taking conflict head on and trusting others while at the same time doing not what is best for you but what is best for the team, I think that you will truly understand and retain the true meaning and importance of this book.

I think I enjoyed the concept of this book more than the actual implementation. Told like a fairy tale, the book tells the story of a team in trouble and a company facing internal failure. A professional "team builder" is hired as CEO to restructure and revitalize the team.

The new CEO struggles to establish a team mentality among her newly acquired executives. Rampant mistrust and confidence issues are paralyzing them. The author chronicles the steps Kathryn takes to overcome these obstacles and begin establishing a self-sufficient group.

In theory, if your team is suffering these sorts of issues, the book should work. This book was required reading for my workplace, and while I found it to be an easy, entertaining, and perhaps even insightful read, I couldn't quite relate to it. Yes, the same sorts of issues are prevalent on my own team at work. However, Kathryn was dealing with eight or nine team members. There are many more on mine. Technically, it should work no matter the size of the team. The problem is convincing everyone on board that this is a good plan.

I would recommend reading the book if for no other reason than to gain more insight into the workings of a team...particularly the ones that aren't working.

We are launching Strategic Planning for the next 5 years...our facilitator of our Strategic Planning suggested that all 16 employees read this book before we launch our planning sessions...it was terrific! Gave everyone a volcabulary and context in which to work as we journey forward to make our own organization totally functional!!!!

As a corporate human resources director, I am continually searching for material that will enhance our organizations team skills. Somewhat like another management book that I recommended Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions, the author uses fictional tales to deliver truthful insights into our business practices. I found the book to be a very intertaining and fun read along with a ton of valuable information. The concepts within the book can be easily implemented and will result in continual improvement in your team building endeavors. The value of teamwork within the modern corporate structure is sometimes a hard sell in the real world. Managers need reference material and books that contain much needed advice if they are going to `prove' the value of teamwork to the CEO. Like communication, everyone says it is important but the rubber rarely meets the road.

The part of the book that details the "five dysfunctions" is a great reference guide and also a topic that sounds eerily familiar as all seasoned managers have been down that road. The `five' are:

1. Absence of trust,
2. Fear of conflict
3. Lack of commitment
4. Avoidance of accountability
5. Inattention to results.

Buy this book. It will be a valuable addition to your bookshelf and certainly one that will be referenced again and again through the years. Michael L. Gooch, SPHR Author of Wingtips with Spurs