Careers Books

I recently bought this book hoping to learn how to read and better understand the behavior of the business people and situations I come across daily in my work in finance. My hopes for this knowledge were SURPASSED as the guidance Mr. Navarro provides in this book is so practical and constructive you can start applying it immediately. I like his style of writing too - easy to follow, engaging with many real examples. I also found the pictures used throughout the book are very helpful in making a behavior memorable so I can look out for it as I go about my day, in and outside of work. I can see how this information could be applied to so many different jobs and situations, not just business and finance, and as such recommend it to anyone looking for more understanding about the behaviors of the people around them.

I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could, because it's already helping me as I apply what I've learnt.

This book was so basic and did not have enough pictures... it's a body language book for crying out loud! If you want to invest in learning more about non-verbal communication buy "The Definitive Guide to Body Language" by Alan Pease - that book is the best book on the topic that I have seen to date! Don't waiste your money on arrogant Navarro's book! TERRIBLE!

This book is everything that I thought it would be. Reading body language is an artform and this brings you a little closer to understanding what it's all about.

Tremendously valuable information for public speakers (know when the audience is bored), interviewers, sales people, organizational change agents, and those of you who just plain want to know when you may be being lied to, or causing distress in the other person. Well written, to the point. Also, just a little bit fun.

This book reinforces non-verbal communications for all humans. I enjoyed this book throughly.
Dutch

This is a wonderful book to read. If you happen to get the audio version, its the best.

I was given this book to read as a member of our church leadership. It had such an impact on me and how I view others, I bought a copy for every one of my employees. It has been amazing to hear others find so much in such a small book. The information in this book may have been written for business, but can be applied to all aspects of life. I highly recommend it.

He has read this book once alone and is now reading it together with me. He is a different man than he was just three months ago partially due to this book and how it's written.

I am a mental health therapist so I often stop reading self help books because they are often too simplified and shallow for my taste. This book is written in a "novel" flavor, lots of dialog. It is using very simple language to express empowering and deep concepts of how we can so easily treat others as objects without realizing how painful it is for others.

I found myself in tears many times as my husband would read a paragraph that would describe what has been going on in a relationship for almost a decade. It is all so subtle I could not find words that made sense to him and over time I became withdrawn and guarded. We are still reading the book and almost done with it now. We have had hours of meaningful and healing discussions and now we are closer than we've ever been.

This book is about working in business, which is what he does. It's about how to be a better manager and boss. The principles are easily transferred to any relationship.

I whole-heartedly recomend this book for anyone who craves meaningful connections with others, especially if you are a man or have trouble understanding how to be an authority figure and yet stay heart-connected with your family and those with whom you need to manage or supervise.

A fascinating book--an absolute Must Read for anyone in the work force, especially those in management or leadership. Excellent too, for anyone in a significant or difficult relationship. Readers come away with a new outlook on the effects their management/relationship style has on others, and what drives and motivates people, and the prices we pay along the way, sometimes without even realizing it. Learn the secret of how to relate to others and change difficult relationships for the better. I highly recommend this book.

I have read over thirty books on leadership and management. This book gives tremendous insight into relationships. It is by far one of the best, most eye opening books I have ever read.

Is learning how millionaires think and act! This book does just that! Please read this book for true understanding of what it takes to get there, no sugar coating in this book and straight to the point. MUST HAVE!

This book is one of the most highly read and rated personal finance books and aptly so. The data-driven research reveals who the real millionaires in America are and its not the flashy, sports car driving individuals you might think. Its a very insightful look ino the lives, habits and finances of America's wealthy, covering a wide range of topics from purchasing watches and cars to economic outpatient care and self-employed business owners.
Although the amount of data presented can become dry and redundant at times as other reviewers have stated (my main reason for 4 instead of 5 stars), the information is there for those who want to take a deeper dive into the numbers behind the summarized observations.
Overall, this book presents some great personal finance lessons and is highly recommended, along with the simple lessons to be learned in "The Richest Man in Babylon"

"Affluent" as defined by Websters dictionary, is "having a generously sufficient and typically increasing supply of material possessions", not really the millionaire next door that this book has studied. Upon reading the book further, I became disheartened. I want to be a millionaire, but do I want to be the millionaire described in this book? Do most millionaires really look like this? Several people I know came to mind that fit the description of the typical millionaire in their study. They are very very frugal and spend A LOT of time thinking about, managing, and planning their money and investments. These are usually not people who are the life of the party. Actually, they're usually not invited to parties. Not a lot of fun to be around. They are persistent accumulators of more and more wealth. They are not givers naturally. The book continues to use the term "affluent" over and over, but these people are not affluent, in lifestyle or generosity.

While the book has some interesting insights into the wealthy, what is the point of amassing a fortune if you're living well below your means? If you're looking to make some money I recommend you read some books on investing. Phil Town's book "Rule #!" is a great book based on the same investment strategies that Warren Buffet uses.

Descriptions from interviews of millionaires were the most interesting aspects of this book. The authors occasionally cited actual paraphrases from some of these folks and those statements were often impactful.

At the end, it's all common sense as in almost all business books. My biggest gripe was the overbearing use of statistics - they can make the numbers say whatever they want and there were times that they did this. For example, their questionaire must have had a question about being self-made or did they recieve an inheritance. Everyone always says they are self-made even if they came from a fairly well off family. They oversimplify how difficult it is to become more wealthy than your parents. Relying on the answers to a questionaire for this insight is unreliable.

But in summary, the book makes some great points about the inner workings of a traditional successful business owner. My favorite of which is that any business owner in any industry can become immensely successful, whether it be hauling garbage, running pawn shops, designing software or selling pharmaceuticals. It's all about hard and smart work.

If you want to rise to the top in your organization, read this book. Many times.

The ideas in this book (if properly executed) are worth $1 million to $100 million (or may be more).

Also recommended: Career Warfare.

I would be happy to good money for any work by D'Alessandro and Michele Owens write. I hope the next book by the duo is about how to hunt (for business).

In the book David D'Alessandro thanks his father and his father's namesake, which I thought was most interesting.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2H45HCT2VREJQ The Three Points I hit on in the video are as follows:
1. win win situations
2. peer and subordinate support
3. know your strengths
A book that may prepare you for warfare, by increasing your ability to acquire knowledge is Don't Like to Read, Then Don't, Listen!: How to Turn Any Type of Text Into Audio Files That Can Be Read to You!

With Michele Owens, David D'Alessandro has written another book whose title and subtitle suggest direct correlations between the battlefield and the business world. What sets this book apart from almost all of the others is the fact that he includes no references to Sun Tzu's The Art of War nor to Carl von Clauswitz' On War. I also appreciate the fact that D'Alessandro establishes, develops, and then sustains a direct rapport with his reader. The informal, indeed conversational tone is precisely appropriate and brilliantly sustained. For example: "The single greatest reason why otherwise talented people get stuck in mid-career is because they believe that the same rules that applied for the first part of their careers still apply. They don't. You have to master a much subtler set of rules. You'll need to learn how to acquire the global perspective your peers lack, when and how to deliver bad news, when to take a shot at your rivals and when to be gracious, and, most important, how to handle the many new influences on your [career] trajectory...Intelligence, imagination, and cunning are all required here - but not underhandedness...I don't believe you need to be devious to succeed. In fact, I think being excessively political is a mistake."

D'Alessandro focuses on the adjustments any executive must make as she or he assumes increased responsibilities during an incremental ascension to higher levels of management. His observations and suggestions indicate that he is an empiricist in that he is especially alert to context as well as to significant details, a pragmatist who prefers to focus on what does - and does not - work and has little, if any patience with "woulda/coulda/shoulda," and he has a unique ability to recognize what is most important among whatever options may be available. He seems determined to share what he has learned so that his reader will be able to balance impeccable integrity with "street smarts." His advice concerns do's and don'ts of when responding to challenges such as these:

Managing increasing complexity at various stages throughout a "career trajectory"

Excerpt: "It's not just that the pyramid narrows and the competition toughens as you rise. It's that the game changes fundamentally...[and, to repeat] In my experience, the single greatest reason why otherwise talented people get stuck in midcareer is because they believe that the same rules that applied for the first part of their career. They don't. You now have to master a much subtler set of rules."

Dealing with rivals

Except: "It is far better to be a steady incremental player who wins, in the end, by impressing people all along the way than to be the kind of hothead who tries to force a quick culmination." Years ago, someone whose name I do not recall invoked a metaphor to make the same point: "Be a Bunsen burner, not a sparkler."

Building a team

Excerpt: "If you are not picking your own team, you are going to be handed some turkeys. When one of those turkeys screws up, you own the turkey...Having a reputation as somebody who not only can build a strong team but also can bring in people who can build strong teams is extraordinarily valuable...The most valuable employees are those willing to rain on your parade when it's necessary - willing even to rain on a parade they organized themselves."

Earning the trust of direct-reports

Excerpt: "Most of your rivals will treat the people who work for them like children. You can win incredible loyalty simply by treating people like adults who can accept the truth. You will also build a team that way because your key people now all share the same information and can work together to act on it...It's important that your employees see that you are [decisive but] not heartless."

Rising into the senior ranks

Excerpt: "You must become a person of presence." How? "First of all, you have to offer something substantial and not just self-importance. Second, "you have to be true to yourself and the things you believe in." And thirdly, "is perspective - and you cannot develop perspective if your entire life revolves around your job...To get to the top - and stay there - you need to be able to lead human brings. And, the only way to learn how to lead is to live."

I realize that these brief excerpts are taken out of context and that D'Alessandro's key points may seem simplistic. They are offered merely to suggest the thrust of his insights and the flavor of his prose. Moreover, I hasten to add that his observations and suggestions are fully developed within an extended narrative that is both cohesive and comprehensive. Also, although much of his advice concerns challenges that C-level executives face, those who do not as yet occupy a position at that level will nonetheless derive a substantial benefit from understanding those challenges because (a) such understanding will improve their relationships with C-level executives in their own organization, and (b) they can prepare themselves adequately for a time when they most respond to them.

David D'Alessandro begins his book with a disclaimer that also serves as an appropriate conclusion to this review: "If you are not interested in success, put down this book and buy a latte."

I have enjoyed all of D'Alessdandro's books but this offering is surely the best. It's filled with insights into the people who can make or break us as we make we our way through the office jungle. D'Alessandro masterfully turns the office landscape into a chess board and gives you the other side's moves in advance. It's full of LOL tales of careers gone wrong before a single napkin is unfurled at the ubiquitous business lunch and valuable after the game analysis of every situation you've ever encountered and later found yourself left dazed wondering what happened.

D'Alessandro's message isn't that the office is a battlefield to vanquish enemies and conqour the masses. Rather, it's a lesson in being human and undertsanding the complexities and social dynamics of the people you work with and for; as well as the ones you hope to replace.

This book does'nt attepmt to glorify or breed a culture of machiavellian manipulation. Executive Warfare synthesizes and assimilates all of lifes truisms, every thing you've known all along but just didn't understand why it mattered or how to use it in your favor.

Well worth the time especially in today's climate. Knowing the secrets to help you stand out from your peers, demonstrate leadership and add value could be your insurance policy against a pink slip.

I would put this in my top five favorite books for management just behind Hubbard's How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of "Intangibles" in Business and Taleb's The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable.

D'Alessandro has written a sort of The Art Of War for upper management. Everything I read in his book is something I can directly relate to my own experiences and probably would have been good advice at the time. Executive Warfare is a little touchy-feely after a read like Hubbard's How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of "Intangibles" in Business, but Hubbard would probably even agree that, at some point, it's not all about measurements and advanced methods. No matter how competent and sophisticated a manager method's are, some issues are about raw survival. While it might seem there are many books on a similar topic, only D'Alessandro seems to capture all the key issues of avoiding corporate exile and the slow death of a manager.

As a seasoned Nikon dSLR camera user (D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200, and the D300) and digital photograply/PC instructor, I constantly look for resources that will allow me and my students to maximize the potential of the current dSLR camera that we are using. There are so many features packed into the numerous, menus (6), buttons (23), switches (5) and dials (5) of the D300, it is difficult to learn the significance and proper use of these (by just reading the Users Manual). David Busch's Nikon D300 Guide to Digital Photography is the most comprehensive resource (432 pages) that I have found in print. David not only introduces you to each feature but explains when and how to use them to maximize your photographic skills. This resource is more than resonably priced and at a price of $19.79 it should be considered a 'steal'. If you really want to explore and master all the features embedded in Nikon's D300 dSLR then this is the resource for you. You want be disappointed.

Joe R. Bumgardner, M.D., F.A.C.S.

This book has been very helpful to me as an addition to the instruction manual with the camera. It is more comprehensive and much easier to understand. I am still working on learning about the camera but definitely would recommend the book to people like me who are not experienced photographers.

This guide is one of the best I have ever used. I read more of it every evening. It has turned my D300 into a tool , not just a toy anymore. Thank you David!

This is the best I have seen and read, easy to understand and great photos and graphics. A Must if you want to get the best handle on the D 300

I bought this book when I bought my D300.

My background is that I have owned Nikon SLRs for over 30 years, the most recent being a F90 (N90 in the USA). The D300 is my first digital SLR - I have a Panasonic FZ5 digital point and shoot. So I am pretty familiar with the Nikon film system and SLRs but not digital.

The book is over 400 pages long, printed on good quality paper and with reasonable quality colour images throughout. It achieves what Mr Busch's preface suggests : "... explains the purpose and function of every one of the D300's controls, how you should use them in specific situations and why".

It does not just rehash the manual and I found that having the manual alongside this book was useful in clarifying occasional points. The manual serves its purpose to describe the controls - Mr Busch adds a lot of meat to that skeleton in explaing how and why to use various features in real-world situations.

Some more advanced users may find some of the basic material a little low level but it only occupies a small portion of the book and is obviously very useful for beginners buying the D300.

In summary, I believe that the book does a great job in fulfilling its stated purpose. I certainly found it very useful. I've just finished reading it and I'll start at the beginning again.

And it costs twenty bucks! If that isn't good value, I don't know what is.
(I have no connection with the author, publisher or seller).

Simple and profoundly true. I sat down to rest, to write this. Must go back to THROWING THINGS AWAY, that are neither useful or important. Excellent book.

By process of self-selection, I would place myself in the better half of the population when it comes to keeping the clutter out of my life. Reading Peter Walsh's 'It's All Too Much', I was glad to find many of the suggested practices already in use, but I also found a few small gems which made me reconsider the status quo and make a change for the better. The discussion on 'cost vs value', was especially valuable: remember that the cost (what you paid), is not necessarily equivalent to value of that item in your life. It's that piece of clothing you bought and wore once, or an expensive present someone gave you and which is now occupying prime real estate in your house - it's time for it to go.

The only immediate shortcoming: the book, in all likelihood, will attract a self-selected crowd of people who are already well down this path. We all know a friend or a relative who could really use the lessons, but Peter Walsh does not provide any discussion on how to breach or introduce the subject. There, you're on your own.

I have read a myriad of books about space clearing and getting organized, but none hit the spot like Peter Walsh's philosophy of getting (and staying) organized.

Even Walsh admits that much of what he does is good ol' common sense, and it is. He puts his educational psychology degree to excellent and practical use in his career. He's one person who deserves all the positive publicity he gets.

It was refreshing to see another person say lots of the things I had been thinking about regarding hoarding stuff. I'm not a hard-core hoarder like some folks, but I did need that extra push to not only get rid of the things that had been clogging my space for years, but not feel bad or want it again when it's gone.

Although I have been able to let go of much stuff in the past, Peter Walsh's book enabled me to keep in mind not to continue to buy while cleaning out and to be extremely mindful when buying more things in the future.

If Walsh's advice were taken by more Americans, no doubt there would be less debt, less fat, and less needless stuff floating around. Highly recommended! - Donna Di Giacomo

This book was eye opening. I actually checked it out from the library a couple times and decided I just needed to buy it for reference and share it with friends and family. It is a very useful guide to organizing, downsizing and training your habits on your stuff. Definite must read for anyone with clutter or hoarding issues!!

This is the best book I have ever read. My husband is a hoarder, so we read it together. This book will help you systimatically go through your home and eliminate everything that you no longer use or need. I feel so free now, and my home is more peaceful and relaxing. It's a great life when you free yourself of the junk that keeps you from enjoying it.

This is an excellent book by Marcus Buckingham! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and the case study he uses throughout the book really reinforces all of the key concepts. The journal pages in the back of the book (or you can download them off his site) are helpful in assisting you to identify which work activities strengthen you and which work activities weaken you. He shows, through case examples, how to minimize the activities that weaken you so that you spend most of your time on work where your strengths shine.

I like the condition of the book delivered to me, it was no hype just real good quality. Thanks for displaying integrity without grity,lol.

Marcus Buckingham is brilliant! His research-profound! As a professional workplace trainer, I use this book and insist that my clients purchase copies for their management teams before I conduct their trainings. Yesterday's "Human Resources" is today's "Talent Management" and employment engagement! Another must-have is the previous book "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham.

Nutshell review - This book is a "6 step guide" on how to apply your strengths in work and life. But actually it's a just spin-off to milk the concept written in "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by the same author. Bottom line message = build and work on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

I felt so ripped off--I got the impression from Buckingham's careful but indirect wording to the reader that you would be able to take the lauded Strengthsfinder test after buying his book and getting the secret code---NOT SO. He very manipulatively avoids telling you that you will now need to buy yet ANOTHER book by ANOTHER author to get that guy's secret code for you to finally get the Strengthsfinder. Buckingham gives you access to some lame thing called the Strengths engagement track. And it gets worse, folks, after you buy the OTHER book to take Strengthsfinder test, you find out that if your spouse wants to take the test? Well, screw him, he has to go buy ANOTHER copy of the same book to get another secret code. These guys sure know how to milk you for all they can get. There are plenty of complaints from readers on the website about this crap--ok, charge a nominal fee for the spouse test--but go buy another copy of the same book for the same household??! I am even mad at Oprah for her endorsement of Buckingham without researching this grab for money more thoroughly and then all of them FULLY and OPENLY and FRANKLY let people know what the now hidden costs are so we know before we invest in the first book and get suckered into buying more and more and more. . . There is some good stuff in the book but I am so disgusted by the unethical set up to reap excessive profits that I am done with it. I'll go somewhere else.

The story and art are great fun, and are well-summarized already in other reviews. "One Minute Manager" meets "Spider-Man" is about right. I'd like to focus on the electronic version I bought.

I read this slim little book on my Kindle, having ordered it on a recommendation. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was a manga book (which you may call a "graphic novel," "comic book," or "funny papers" depending on your demographic orientation). I've since learned that the Kindle isn't really well-suited to this format. Why?

- the file size is much larger than the average all-text book (longer initial download);
- the refresh rate of e-ink is annoying when you're turning pages quicker than an all-text book;
- the Kindle's screen contrast isn't quite high enough to have the black-and-white art "pop" as it would on the page (it's like reading it on dingy gray newsprint);
- resolution not quite high enough to read all the balloon text without eyestrain.

I also noticed some unique technical problems with this particular conversion:

- a thin line of black pixels down the spine edge of many pages, as if the electronic scan wasn't cleaned up;
- a page-turning bug which might be related to the large file size or a memory overrun: I thought I was missing some content when the "next page" button advanced me several pages at a time instead the expected one-page-at-a-time.

Based on this experience, I don't be getting any more graphics-heavy books for the current version of the Kindle. I never considered the Kindle to be a comics-delivery device, and this iffy conversion proves the point.

This comic book is brilliant in its coaching approach to dealing with the real life issue of being dissatisfied with you career. It offers true coaching approaches in a light hearted easy to read manner.

A must read for anyone who is looking for fulfillment and life calling.

Good advice all around, presented in an entertaining format. It took me all of 20 minutes to read, and I'm a slow reader.

As a college professor, I will be recommending this nice, fun, easy yet important message read! Wish I would have had it when I graduated!!!

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need by Daniel Pink, art by Rob Ten Pas, Penguin Books, 2008

I wasn't looking for a career guide and I didn't expect to buy a manga-style comic book about business but, since The Adventures of Johnny Bunko is by Daniel Pink, I grabbed it right away. Pink is the author of A Whole New Mind which highlights the ever-increasing importance of right-brain thinking for the success of today's workers. In Johnny Bunko, Pink uses right-brain elements like design, story, emotion, and metaphor to talk about six lessons for career success. After a lucky "break," character Johnny Bunko combines the teachings of a flighty guru with his own experiences to learn the six lessons:
There is no plan.
Think strengths, not weaknesses.
It's not about you.
Persistence trumps talent.
Make excellent mistakes.
Leave an imprint.
What's appealing about these lessons, besides their simplicity, is their applicability to more than just one's career aspirations. Personal relationships, family life, and community participation can all benefit from focusing on people's strengths or a desire to leave a positive imprint, for example.

And the book is appealing too. The manga illustrations evoke both mood and motion - qualities absent from the business publishing world. The book becomes accessible to anyone and invites a quick re-read whenever there is a spare moment. Not a bad quality considering it could take a whole career to master these six lessons! For that reason alone, it's this year's graduation present for everyone on my list.

For more information: www.thefirefly.org

After having read some german case interview preparation books I bought this book and I have to say that "Case in Point" is the best preparation for consulting interviews you can get.
The cases in this book are absolutely realistic! The solutions that are suggested by the author are very detailed.
This book helped me a lot to get some offers of big consulting firms in Germany.

Unequivocally the best consulting/case interview preparation book I've read to date. For anyone interested in Management Consulting -- if your Career Center doesn't have this text you should seriously consider transferring...

To put my review in its proper context, my background involves several years of consulting experience followed by an MBA and MSF from a top institution. Currently, I lead the strategy unit for a F500 technology services business.

From the "Look Inside" preview the value-add should be obvious, so I won't go into the details other than to say Marc provides a framework that can be applied to just about every business situation/case. I will comment, however, that in addition to preparing the candidate for the interview process, the book also gets the successful candidate thinking about how an engagement should be managed (identifying issues and hypotheses, prioritizing, developing work streams etc...). Adopting this higher-level of thinking during the interview process will help you score points with interviewers.

This book gives a simple & easy outline how to approach case questions.
The model case questions are explained in proper structural steps and hence easy to understand.
I would recommend the book to others who wish to understand Case Studies interviews/Analysis.

Case in Point is a decent book and offers good advice. But having worked in strat con myself, I disagree with Cosentinos methodology. I think it is too unstructured and will lead interviewees to shoot with unrefined questions during the interview. Also, the way he tackles Cases suggests that one can learn and repeat the same structure in the interview. From my experience, this is not the winning strategy. Preparation is important, but I would favor practicing a more general understanding of business frameworks.

Also, the book is solely focused on the US. If your interview is for an international office, the recruiting process will be very different. Look for local books, websites etc.

I recommend Case in Point for 2 main reasons: It is both practical and thorough. The simulated cases give the novice a sense for the given-and-take of a case interview. And Cosentino's "Ivy Case System" helps non-MBAs to get grounded in the broad classes of issues that companies, and hence consultants, face.

My advice: Kick-start your case interview preparation with this guide, and then check out CQI to boost your business quant and test your case-cracking skills.

This book was the foundation of my own spiritual awakening and development. The CORRECT application of Dr. Hawkins' consciousness research technique provides the humble reader with a remarkably sound method of discerning truth from falsehood, such as separating the fallacious teachers (regardless of their appeal, glamorization or even "celebrity status") from those that truly provide spiritual guidance with the utmost integrity, love and compassion. Furthermore, readers (that are earnestly) seeking truth realize an expanded level of consciousness and a significant leap in spiritual development, as well as a greater understanding of ordinary yet often confusing human behavior. However, readers that are absorbed in narcissism and therefore trapped within the confines of their own egos will probably become irritated at their own inability to accurately use consciousness research. It is not for everyone, as not everyone is earnestly seeking truth. The spiritual devotee awakens upon reading Power vs. Force. This is a tremendous opportunity in learning to assess the truth of anything, and Dr. Hawkins clearly explains the simple technique and why it works.

I wish every religious, spiritual, and political person would read this. Not only is the True real, it's verifiable. Thank you David Hawhins.

This is a very good book and the core of it is valuable and amazing, however there are some flaws in the kinesiological method and results, and some annoying generalizations 'metal music makes one go weak' without saying what specific music was being tested. When doing kinesiological or energy testing, one must be very specific about the subject of the test. Also, one's personal feelings and mentation can at times override proper testing (this is why he says one has to be at '300' or above to get proper results).
Dr. Hawkins has done us a great service with his research however, and seems to be very sincere. The levels of consciousness diagram is worth the price of admission.

If the only thing in this book was the chart to show us the energy levels of different emotions, it would be worth FAR more than the price of the book. If you've read The Secret, Ask and It Is Given ([...]) or Lynn Grabhorn's book (Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting) you'll want to see how they tie to this book. The energy levels of different emotions along with the list of "Emotional Setpoints" from Ask and It Is Given are the two most powerful tools that have helped me to be conscious of and raise my vibration level to attract more good into my life.

Hawkins has given humanity a great epistemological breakthrough- we can test the truth of any statement with Applied Kinesiology, the science of muscle tension and tone. You can try this at home- measure the truth of a proposition by standing with your arm perpendicular to your body, have someone tell you a proposition, while the person pushes your arm down. The degree of truth of the statement is indexed to how much resistance there is in your arm during the pushing. Moreover, reading books and doing critical analysis of them is superfluous. "Simply hold [books] over your solar plexus, and have somebody test your muscle strength. As you do so, your books will end up in two piles; reflection on the differences between the two can produce a revelation." (p. 124) It may even be dangerous to read. "One may think he can maintain his psychic independence by refuting the work intellectually, but mere exposure to the material has a profound negative effect that continues even after the material is intellectually rejected. It's as though, within those negative influences, there's a hidden virus whose invasion of our psyches goes unnoticed." One will be tempted to ask if this is all just a humorous, Sokal-style hoax. Sadly, the answer is no.