Careers Books

Good information, presented in a light fun manner. Great intro to objectives book. Only thing keeping it from a 5 is it was a little long for the actual amount of info presented if you have previous knowledge on writing well-structured instructional objectives.

Written by the patron saint of trainers everywhere, Robert Mager provides a quick, humorous and easy-to-understand read in what is the heart and soul of training--objectives.

This book offers the readers choice solutions or answers. The reader then turns to the page choice to see if she selected the right choice or not.

Another essential about this book is besides being less than an afternoon read, it is essential to review time and again when you are writing instructional objectives.

Buying this should be one of your objectives!

This book is the easiest read I've had in studying education. It is a "choose your own adventure" in education. Read about how to write instructional objectives and then turn the page to find out if you understand what you've read. Very simple and to the point. You don't need any other book to help you write objectives!

This book is a quick and enjoyable read. The content is very easy to understand. Through the use of humor and skill testing questions, Mager has made learning fun! As a student, I survived many of the poorly written objectives that Mager describes in this book. It was nice to realize I wasn't the problem...the objectives were! I look forward to using this guide to develop clear, concise objectives so students can focus more on the joy of learning and be more successful at it.

Very straight-forward and easily digestible read. Step-by-step instructions will have you creating meaningful objectives, which translate into meaningful instruction.

I was really disappointed by this book. Ms. Black's "words of wisdom" are nothing more than basic common sense tidbits for the work world. I've worked in magazine publishing for 20 years, and I was expecting an insider's view of the industry. Instead, I read page after page of mediocre advice. I was also turned off by Ms. Black's tendency to name drop and pat herself on the back over and over again. I agree that with some other readers that this is really a memoir masquerading as how-to advice. There's nothing special about Ms. Black's advice. In fact, I was shocked that someone who has climbed to the top of an extremely competitive industry had so little to say. If you're looking for a light read, you might enjoy this book. But if you're looking for real insights and rules for success, check this book out from your local library--but don't waste your own money on it.

i have read this book with great interest.
it's just amazing to gain from such a huge amount of experience, all the while being motivated by her encouraging words.
truly recommendable!

I have to agree with the reviewers who believe this book is better suited to those with less experience in the career world. I like Cathie's easy to read style but her guide does not really offer any new insights to those of us who have been out there in the trenches; it really reiterates the "basics" and common sense; had I read this book approx. 10 years ago, I probably would have gotten a lot more out of it.

Excellent Book for young adults. My granddaughter, 23, said it was extremely helpful and insightful.

I loved the behind-the-scenes peek in to the mag world (I love mags) interwoven with great lessons to be learned, and peppered with her own mistakes. Fantastic book.

C. Vann Woodward's "The Strange Career of Jim Crow" remains one of the most important books written about post-Reconstruction Southern America. In the space of very few pages, Woodward brings to us the proposal that the assumptions we have all been making about Jim Crow laws and the development of segregation were all wrong from the very beginning. We are taught the lie from grade school forward that "that's just the way it always has been in the South." Not so, according to Woodward.

We learn very quickly when reading this book that not only were there three or four decades following the Civil War wherein there was virtually no major segregation in the South - but the conditions with regards to segregation and equal rights in the South were actually better than in the North for several decades as well.

The lies of a racist South and a desperate North (desperate to make a moral issue of something that they too were guilty of in trying to keep blacks from having equal rights) somehow stuck in the Southern psyche, and all along we've been thinking that people were racist because "that's all they knew." Woodward blows this theory out of the water, and exposes the truth about the post-Reconstruction South.

Not only was segregation not popular in the South in much of the late 19th Century, but blacks voted often. There was very good participation - enough to put a lot of blacks and Republicans in public office in the South - for a time. It was not until the 1870s that a gradual change began in the South. That change brought about the Jim Crow laws - changes that were unwelcome to all of humanity. Booker T. Washington believed that the South could not advance and still leave the blacks behind: Woodward came about a few decades later and showed us all just how right Washington really was.

C. Vann Woodward's "The Strange Career of Jim Crow" was the first major effort to analyze the segregation system in the American South. Appearing in 1955, the author's treatment of this institution refuted contemporary statements made by several public figures who argued that racial separation was an ancient phenomenon that would last indefinitely. Not so, argued Woodward, as he proceeded to prove that the South experienced a time after the Civil War when the two races often intermingled without widespread hostility on the part of southern whites. Woodward's book expresses the heartfelt belief that since segregation was a recent development, the possibility existed for the South to reject its separatist doctrine and eventually embrace integrationist principles. The first chapters deal with the period during and after Reconstruction, what Woodward refers to as the First Reconstruction, when the South grudgingly accepted conditions forced upon it by the North. The author argues that blacks in southern urban areas often lived side by side with white citizens, as well as rode in the same streetcars and dined in many of the same restaurants. There were exceptions to these incidents, but overall monolithic, legalized segregation measures simply did not exist.

One of the reasons for this lack of overarching segregation policies concerned southern politics in the post-Civil War South. The author outlines three political philosophies during the 1880s and 1890s that worked to capitalize upon black support. Southern liberalism went nowhere with its arguments that all citizens must have equal rights in all social spheres. Conservative southerners took a position between liberals and radical racists, arguing that in every society there existed superior and inferior elements. Obviously, conservatives claimed, blacks occupied an inferior position to whites. This did not mean that blacks should be treated harshly or denied privileges. The conservatives were paternalists and used the goodwill they earned from blacks to capture elective offices from the Redeemers. The conservative political philosophy collapsed when widespread corruption swept its proponents from office. The Populists, the last southern political structure Woodward discusses, also attempted an alliance with blacks. The movement was short lived, and with external pressures of the 1880s and 1890s such as economic depression and northern indifference to blacks, southerners blamed blacks for their social ills. Moreover, southern politicians weary of the years of malicious infighting decided to seek a measure of unification, and they achieved this fusion by blaming black voters for economic and political discord. It is at this time, writes the author, when segregation laws blossomed across the South.

The second section of the book deals with the emergence and consequences of what Woodward calls the Second Reconstruction. Starting during the Second World War and emerging fully during the 1950s and 1960s, this era of race relations saw increasing waves of attacks directed against Jim Crow in the South. The first maneuvers came from the White House, with Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman launching several initiatives aimed at integrating defense jobs and the armed services. The second wave came with a series of Supreme Court actions seeking to integrate the school systems. With action came reaction as the segregationists finally launched an offensive against Brown vs. The Board of Education when lower court judges in the South upheld the higher court's ruling. The resulting attempts to undercut the judgment by southern state governments coupled with periodic outbreaks of violence led to even more civil rights initiatives from the federal government. Kennedy proposed and Johnson pushed through Congress measures aimed at accelerating integration and restoring the black vote in the South. The Second Reconstruction ended after the riots of the 1960s in northern cities caused civil rights organizations to shift from a role of non-violence to militant black nationalism. Woodward's book concludes on a rather pessimistic note when he observes that black-white relations seem to be reverting to a new form of racial separation.

It is difficult to find problems with "The Strange Career of Jim Crow." The book was the first work to sum up the civil rights movement in the United States. Moreover, the author wrote a book broad enough to give historians plenty of material for further research, something scholars always appreciate. Even the form of the book, with its lack of footnotes and energetic style, is more of a plus than a minus. By writing a friendly, accessible treatment of the issue, Woodward managed to reach beyond the walls of academia and find a wide public audience. It is not difficult to imagine that many of the young people registering black voters or going on freedom rides could cite this book as a major influence in their decision to make a stand against segregation. As the afterword shows, even Martin Luther King, Jr read and quoted Woodward on occasion. Finally, the fact that this book has never gone out of print underscores its seminal influence on the country at large.

No book is immune to criticism, however. Woodward often fails to incorporate into his narrative what actions blacks took in response to segregation. This critique is not always valid: the author does cite a black newspaperman who toured the South in the late 1800s, along with several members of the Black Panther Party. But in several places the book needs some description of black agency, especially the chapter concerning southern politics. Woodward presents the black population in the 1880s and 1890s as a passive force palmed off from one white political faction to another. Are we to assume that black voters simply bowed their heads and acted the role of dupes to savvy white politicians? Perhaps many did due to a lack of education and a lingering submissiveness from the days of slavery, but there were people who attempted to participate in the system in order to earn their rights.

The most fascinating thing about this book is not just the particular events in history, or the misconceptions and myths that Woodward discusses, but rather how truly complex the issue of race is in America. Since emancipation, there has always been a struggle between and among whites and blacks to figure out how to understand each other and themselves, and how to occupy the same place. This history is indeed strange, and to have an idea of why race is still such an issue today, it helps to know how racism, segregation, and civil rights changed over time.

Woodward's book cautions us against taking simplified views that the South was always racist, and the North was not, and he begins by describing various accounts of life in the South right after the Civil War. According to Woodward, the venomous prejudice that sustained the Jim Crow laws decades later wasn't foreseeable at that time. Much of his explanation of the racist sentiment that so desired segregation is framed in the context of politics, and he tries to analyze many of the events he discusses in terms of political and economic pressures, as well as in terms of reactions to preceding actions.

If the Civil War is to be seen as a war for racial equality (and there are many other ways of seeing it), then it can easily be argued that it continues to this day. It is often most comforting to think of the wiping out of Native Americans, and then the enslavement of Africans as hideous scars that America carries in the past, while believing that America today is a different, tolerant place. But Jim Crow laws were a product of the twentieth century, and the racial tensions still exist in a very real way. Woodward's book, first published in 1955, and last revised in 1974, is still immensely relevant today, and reading it can only enhance your sense of American history.

I have the 1957 edition of the book, and so can't comment on the new chapter.
This is a fascinating book which should be read by anyone interested in racial issues, US history, or US politics.
The major surprise to me is Woodward's description, complete with many contemporary quotes, of a time in the late 1800's post-Reconstruction South where African Americans were treated largely equally with regard to public accomodations and voting. Segregation, then, was considered to be a "lower-class white attitude."
It wasn't until approximately 1900 that a very segregationist attitude came about in the South, largely as the result of the interplay of Republican, Democratic, and Progressive politics.
This is course gives the lie to assertion through much of the 1900's that de jure racial segregation was a time-honored part of Southern life, and there was no possible alternative.
Woodward then goes on to describe the depths to which Jim Crow legislation sank, describing the effect of African American migration within the country, World War II, how our segregationist policies hurt the US image abroad, and on to the beginnings of the civil rights movement, ending shortly after _Brown v. Board of Education_, well before the major civil rights events and legislation.
Fairly quick read, and a great book!

C. Vann Woodward's The Strange Career of Jim Crow is not only a fine introduction to its topic -- the segregationist period in the South -- but one of the most significant and influential books of its time.

Originally published in 1955 (by Oxford University Press), Professor Woodward's tome kicked off the Civil Rights era with a bang, debunking the ludicrous myth (and mantra among segregationists) that separation of the races had always existed in Southern life, and generally dissecting an ugly monstrosity which had come to be accepted simply as "the way things are." Ten years later, in a second revision which came just as the legal battle against segregation was almost won, Woodward added a wealth of information which helped finish the job of winning the people's hearts and minds: in the words of Robert Penn Warren, Woodward's work was "a witty, learned, and unsettling book. The depth of the unsettling becomes more obvious day by day; which is a way of saying that it is a book of permanent significance." And ten years later still, in this -- the third and final revision -- Woodward capped off the era with an examination of the more violent, less integrationist movements which arose after Watts, with leaders like Huey Newton, Eldridge Cleaver and Bobby Seale.

Woodward is an equal-opportunity myth-exploder. On the one hand, he demonstrates at great length that segregation was not a mere expression of racism, but in fact a complex and corrupt outworking of many political and economic interests in the impoverished, post-Reconstruction South. On the other hand, he also shows conclusively that segregation took time to develop: it was not, as its supporters claimed, the way things had always been, or even the way things had come to be immediately following the war, but had actually arisen thirty and even forty years later, with the removal of Northern troops, the disintegration of Republican influence, a national "taking up of the white man's burden" with regard to "colored" peoples abroad, and increasing economic distress which allowed successive Populists and Democrats to consolidate power by limiting white exposure to the threat of competing (and competitive) blacks. These things, combined with a series of Supreme Court rulings sanctioning segregation, produced a wicked stew which more modern readers found extremely unpalatable upon Woodward's closer examination.

Beyond these things, Woodward's treatment of the Jim Crow era itself, as well its demise, were and are excellent, and were especially provocative at the time of their writing. Based on a series of lectures delivered at the University of Virginia in 1954, the book is not annotated, and even in a third edition remains quite brief; yet it is thorough and engaging, and suffers only a bit for these points. In all, it remains not only an excellent history -- produced by one of America's finest scholars -- but also a key source document of its era, and is a very good read as well. It continues to be vital to a proper understanding of the South, as well as the whole misbegotten concept of "separate but equal."

If your son or daughter is thinking, contemplating, dreaming, or planning on a career in architecture please buy this book for them and be sure they read it cover to cover. My son went to Catholic University's 3 week architecture camp this past summer and enjoyed a speech by Dr. Lee Waldrep, associate dean at neighboring University of Maryland's architecture school. After the speech Dr. Waldrep gave each attendee a copy of this book. Dr. Waldrep made quite an impression on my son as he announced after the camp that he also wanted to investigate Maryland, a school not initially on his college list. I saw the book at home and read it in two nights (295 pages). The book is laid out and presented in a way that offers "real world" insight, from noted architects, about the profession and what it takes to become an architect. This profession's "passion" really jumps out of each page as successful architects describe their education, interests, challenges, influences, etc. For me, the parent of a young aspiring architect, I felt very proud that my son has chosen such an interesting and respected profession. Well done Dr. Waldrep...and thank you!

If you are exploring design careers for the first time, this book is a must read! Waldrep skillfully coalesces insights from various faculty, students, and practitioners in order to provide a depth and breadth that is normally missing from typical career guides. There is advice on everything from the definition of architecture to establishing a design career, and everything in between; this advice cemented my intent to apply to a graduate program in architecture and urban planning.

I really loved the diversity of viewpoints expressed in the book. Modernists, neo-traditionalists, nontraditional students, traditional students, deans, and admissions professionals all have their own ideas about what attributes are necessary for a good architect, how to choose an academic program, and what employers look for. Finally, the text was so fun to read that I finished it the same day I received it and plan to read it again.

I don't know. I expect this book to have more information than it is. There's not much content but too many interview. In fact the whole book is all about the interview from different people in different architecture backgrounds.

It may be a good book to those who want to knwo more about architecture, to architecture students who have never had internship before. Since I already worked for more than one year in architecture firms, I feel this book contains much less information than I expect.

Anyway, it's just my personal opinion. Hope it helps.

A coffee table book; This is not a "cover-to-cover" read that teaches one how to become an architect. It does, however, provide a range of possibilities for the futures of aspiring architects. It is compiled of interviews with different professionals, preceded and concluded with resourceful information about schooling, exams, licenture, etc. It does present "answers" in a way, through examples of different paths and interests that lead to the varied careers in architecture. I would recommend this to students, in particular, who are considering an education/career in architecture: at moments while reading the book I felt insecure about my contrary approach to architecture; at other points while reading, I felt confident in the ability to relate my approach. It is reassuring to read the first-hand experiences of persons who are already at the point where I may be some day.

One of my daughters is very interested in becoming an architect and this is an ideal book for her. I think any young person of even an undergraduate college student considering this career path will find this book very helpful.

I appreciate that the book asks and answers the most likely questions a young person will ask or should ask about the career. Even more I appreciate that the author has brought in a broad range of practicing architects to answer than and share their views. This range of opinions and suggestions is quite helpful. It also has the benefit of being interesting.

There are five chapters, the first provides some definition of what an architect is by talking about the wide range of things architects do, and helps the prospective architect think through if such a career is for them. The important skills of architects are also discussed.

Chapter two talks about the education of an architect and even gets back into childhood toys, books and activities. For the high school student considering this career they suggest which courses are most beneficial for the student. They also discuss the licensing, paths to various degrees and what they are needed for. Appendix B also gives a list of accredited architecture programs. There is also information about the application programs and academic enrichment.

Chapter three talks about how to gain experience as a student, how to get noticed, what hiring companies look for, and moving towards licensure. Chapter four helps the student design her career and what the options are. Chapter five lets the participants in this book speak about their wide range of views of the future of architecture. Appendix A provides a resource list for architects - professional organizations, institutions, community service, recommended reading, and websites.

All great stuff, very readable, and with lots of interesting illustrations and photographs.

Very good!

To be honest, when you sign up for the border patrol exam they send you a study guide. The practice tests in both books are the same test and most of the information are in both books as well. The study guide comes through the mail free also. One ok thing about the book was that it gave a little more insight into what the job is about where the study guide didnt have any info about the job at all.

THANKS TO THIS BOOK FINALY PASSED THE BORDER PATROL EXAM AND LEAVE FOR TRAINING NEXT MONTH. YEAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I bought this review guide 2 weeks prior to the Border Patrol Exam for the sole purpose of "fine tuning" my speed and accuracy with the Practice Exams, and, unfortunately, I was very disappointed to find that it had too many errors. Explanations for the correct and wrong answers were vague. Many times they didnt make sense. Also, the spanish review was terribly written. Wrong use of verbs, sentence structure, etc. Its unbelievable that this "updated" edition is being sold as is. Save your money. Heck, for all I know I shouldve just reviewd LSAT Logical Reasoning questions. But I'm still glad that I passed with a high score without the help of this study guide. Good luck on your test! :)

This is a great book for those who want to pass the Border Patrol Exam. My husband bought this book one month before the test and our first language is Spanish. The Comprehension part of this book is excellent. My husband studied day and night in his free time out of work and I am glad to say it was not a waste of time. He took the test 2 weeks ago and he past it with an 82% and I am very proud of him because after all the time he spent studying he made it. Of course the real test will never be revealed but the examples these people give in this book are very alike. THE KEY OF ALL THESE IS TO STUDY HARD, VERY HARD AND TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

I just took the compressed BPA in Chicago last Saturday (02AUG08)- the 3rd Edition exam guide was instrumental in helping me get an 85 (70 was the minimum for passing). Out of around 110 applicants, probably 50 passed. When we got to the ALT, you could hear people in the room deflating from the unplanned difficulty- DO NOT underestimate the Alternate Language section, for that matter, the entire test is long and not easy. (As a comparison, I recently got an 86 on the TEA which is supposed to be more difficult). Also, a LOT of the Spanish speakers did not make the cut either- DO NOT take the Spanish section unless you can teach it (or at least make sure you have a good handle on English for the verbal reasoning).

THE STAR RATING: I gave the study guide 4 stars because of some typos and errors. I can think of 5-8 instances where the correct answer as indicated by the book was, in fact, not correct. Other typos were when the editors were using the Homeland Security Border Patrol Prep Manual as a template and did not change the prefix/suffix to match their rules. There are no other guides out there, so at least we have this one.

FREE ONLINE TEST: I could have done without this freebee. I was coming off an excellent practice test of 92% on both sections and took the online test the night before my real exam. When the online exam was graded, I got a 76, but after looking at the explanations, the answer key was rife with errors. I was closer to 84% as far as I could tell. Not a great confidence booster before the test. I see no excuse for this.

HOW I USED THE GUIDE: I started studying about 2 weeks out, focusing on the ALT section (there are 2 different tests in the guide, and the Border Patrol sends you a prep manual that has an ALT test). My biggest recommendation is to translate ALL words, not just those requested, and in the section where you indicate if each of the three words is RIGHT or WRONG, if it is wrong, figure out the CORRECT word. You will have a better understanding of the formation of words. If you aren't right, you'll see what you were thinking at the time and make a note of it. (My biggest issue was remembering adverbs DID NOT always end in "LY"- it was reflexive because of the examples in the guide). I took each practice test 2 times (1st x test 1: 65%, 1st x test 2: 72%, 1st x BPA manual 68%, 2nd x test 1: 90%, 2nd x test 2: 92%, 2nd x BPA manual 2nd: 89%). I was averaging 65 minutes per section. I was really amazed that by the end of two weeks, I could read the Alternate Language without using the translation sheet- it was funny. After you get the hang of the ALT, practice answering the questions without writing in the booklet- you won't be able to on test day either.

RECAP: I guess some who did not prepare for the Border Patrol test felt like they were trying out for the minor leagues or something. This is to be a Border Patrol AGENT, a federal agent of the United States. Study the ALT and work on your verbal reasoning- put the time in and get the reward.

As Peter Kreeft himself says, some of his simplest works are is most favored. This is one of them. Some of the most simple things in life can have the greatest affect on how well our life is. This book provokes thought on things that are often overlooked. I love Peter Kreeft's philiosophy and so far this is my favorite of his books. It deserves careful and thoughtful reading.

In 162 short letters to his adult children he summarizes what he would like them to be sure of, to realize, to do, and to love. The idea is nice. Kreeft puts all his intensity and devotion in his letters as he does with all his books.

The only minus I would give in this case is that it is too vague, too general in scope. I guess that is the nature of advice, otherwise it would need a full book to explain why this advice is given, why so important. Then this is not the kind of literature that appeals to me most. But for ole time Kreeft readers it won't disappoint.

Peter Kreeft is an outstanding philosophy professor at Boston College who has written over 40 books, most of which are excellent. Professor Kreeft is similar to G K Chesterton and C S Lewis in that he is a Christian philosopher who writes very clear and profound books that are full of wisdom.

BEFORE I GO consists 162 life lessons that Kreeft has learned, and each lesson is covered in 1 to 3 pages. Lesson 6, "The Most Important Person" is a hierarchy of what a person's priorities in life should be, with God first, one's spouse second, one's children third and so on. Lesson 9 is a succinct description of "What is a Good Person?"

Lesson 48 has a funny litmus test on how to tell if a book is a great book; funny because it rings true. And Lesson 51 has a poignant lesson learned too late from the poet Thomas Carlyle. Kreeft's advice on how to keep marriages intact in Lesson 87 is short, sweet and dead-on-target.

"Before I Go" is short - it took only about 3 hours to read - and full of wisdom. This is indeed a great book in that it gives cogent guidance on the good, the beautiful and the true. Were Socrates to read this book, he would realize that he had finally found that wise man that Socrates sought in ancient Greece but never found. This is Kreeft's 2nd best book - exceeded only by his outstanding HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS - and I give it my highest recommendation.

I liked the readable format in which to share some universal "words of wisdom" with my children. Perhaps reading them in another person's time & space will reinforce the significance for all.

Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for Reader Views (12/07)

Having sat with several people as they draw close to the end of their life, I have noticed that many find themselves frustrated by the short time they have to say the final, important things to their loved ones. Peter Kreeft has taken a preemptive strike at that moment for his family by writing this short, readably warm book, "Before I Go: Letters to Our Children about What Really Matters." Kreeft states that this book is simply a "word-insurance policy. It is a way of speaking even after you are dead" (4). And he has written it for his grown children against the day that he may no longer be able to say what he deems are the important things, before he goes.

The short chapters are normally succinct, lasting anywhere from three sentences to three pages, but the depth of insight vastly surpasses the amount if ink and paper. For example, in one short chapter, he poignantly reveals the two categories into which people generally fall, "There are only two kinds of people: sinners, who think they're saints, and saints, who know they're sinners. There are only fools, who think they're wise, and the wise, who know they're fools" (51). It becomes clear as one reads further into this book that the writer is skilled at writing and at writing in a memorable fashion. I found myself struggling to put the book aside, because each chapter enticed me to jump to the next.

Kreeft teaches philosophy at Boston College, which shines through in several chapters, particularly in the superb craftsmanship with which he is able to hone an idea down to its primary point, like the following; "Worship God, love people, and respect stuff" (54). He is also a loyal Roman Catholic, and that similarly comes through clear and without apology all over this book. Neither of these facts detracts from the book, but is the reservoir from which he is able to dish out his nourishing and healthful comments.

The realism with which Kreeft sees the world, and with which he writes, is a two edged sword. Because of the down-to-earth way he airs his thoughts, he will be easily grasped, and heartily appreciated, by the simplest readers: "We strut and fret and preen and pose, but only God can make a rose" (86). But his earthy approach might also catch some completely off guard, especially as he uses expletives on occasion. Yet these are never gratuitous, but serve to drive home a valuable, salient point.

Reading "Before I Go" will be a pure pleasure for the thoughtfully reflective, and a valuable gift for many parents to use in passing on wise words to their children before they lose the ability to say those final, important words.

This book was smaller than I realized, but it is a really cool book with a lot of great illustrations and a unique format!

I picked this book up in the lobby after one of Mr. Carroll's presentations. After the speech, the Q&A, and speaking with him in person I was thrilled to finally sit down and read through the book. With that kind of inspiration, the text is incredible - you can really feel the emotion behind his words!

Unfortunately, that seems to be lost on anyone not already familiar with Carroll's work. To them, the shortness of the book (particularly in comparison with its price) is a serious negative. Looking back at the book after a year, though, I have to agree. It's short, not much content, and if the deeper meaning behind the book layout and message isn't fresh in your mind it's difficult to pay attention to.

All in all, it's a phenomenal piece of work and a priceless vessel of inspiration. I can't give it a full 5 stars, though, because it isn't quite as exciting the second time around.

I have read this book several times...it is engaging, fun and rejuvinating. I have given copies to my sons,my son's friends, friends, family and co-workers.

If you have the opportunity....buy this books, share it, give it as a gift!

Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I read through this amazing little book...and then I'm ready to take on the world! Kevin Carroll has a great story about growing up and pursuing his life's passion. (He eventually became a trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers and a world-traveling inspirational speaker for Nike.) His insights and encouragements in "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball" are helpful for anyone who knows what they love to do but aren't sure how to make a living out of it. My wife and I buy a bunch of copies of this book every year as a gift for graduates, but it also makes a perfect gift for anyone with a dream they want to pursue.

This book is short, and it's full of colorful artwork and creative layouts, making it fun to read. The cover of the book actually has a cut-out circle of red rubber ball material. It's great!

I loved this book which is cleverly illustrated. It put a big smile on my face! Certainly inspirational in a very light but profound way Kevin Carroll takes us through his journey with the Red Rubber Ball (pages have colorful drawings and excellent design) and how he has found inspiration to shine in his life while making a difference in the world and going for his dreams. With his seven simple rules he has accomplished a lot (along with well-being), Carroll is an athlete, one of the first afro-american NBA's trainers, speaker and has a leadership position at Nike. All because he followed his passion for the Red Rubber Ball... He talks about every day being a chance to look for something unexpected and about making life our playground to have fun in whatever we are passionate about. I say that is a pretty miraculous way to go through life and reminds me of the work of Ariel and Shya Kane. They are catalysts for having a brilliant life regardless of the circumstances, their books Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation, How To Create a Magical Relationship and Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment as well as their 3 Principles of Transformation are excellent guides to live a fun fresh life full of opportunities, right here right now no need to wait for the future. If you're interested in having your life be magical and fun, creating opportunities and living to the fullest, I highly recommend checking out both Carroll and the Kanes.

This is a good book to use for preparation to take the ATSAT. It also has lots of info on what it is like to go through ATC training, and what it might be like to be a controller in ZTL. The prep tests are not exact, but they are pretty close, and they are faster paced than the actual tests, so that helps improve your time. There are some differences between the tests and the practice, but this book will really help you if you're starting out cold without an ATC background or training.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is preparing to take the AT-SAT exam. Had it not been for this book, I would have been totally lost on the test. I scored a 97.7 and I owe it mostly to the preparation and study guide included in this book but not only that it included a Cd-rom that resembled the test... !!!

All I can say is that the practice sets and cd-rom thoroughly prepared me for the AT-SAT. I received my book two and a half weeks before the test, and it prepared me so well that I ended with a test score above 95%. So thanks to Patrick Mattson I will soon be on my way to Oklahoma city and hopefully a very wonderful career in air traffic control!!!

This book was very informative. Some testing sections such as the simulated Air Traffic scenario was sped up to make the actual test seem much easier. I passed so I highly recommend this book.

The whole point of this book is to try to raise your score on the ATSAT test and this book MIGHT help. Like an IQ test, you can't really study for the ATSAT. Using this book and the accompanying CD only helps you become familiar with what you are going to see on the test. That alone can certainly help you improve your score since you won't be so overwhelmed when the test starts. Be very careful though because the actual test and instructions are different than what you'll see in the book and CD. Read and follow the real test instructions carefully.

There are many flaws in the book and practice CD software including design flaws as well as outright incorrect answers. While the author has done a pretty good job of verifying the content of the book the publishers have thrown in some pretty crappy software. The book spends a lot of time teaching you Air Traffic Control which does NOTHING to help you prepare for the test. In other words, there are NO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL questions on the ATSAT. For this reason the other often purchased ATSAT prep book, Peterson's, is even more worthless because it doesn't even come with a marginal practice CD or written test examples.

With all that said though I still believe this book is a worthwhile investment toward the chance of an outstanding career. If you have been selected to take the ATSAT you might as well spend a few bucks to gain any advantage possible. Most everybody feels that the actual test is easier than the practice CD.

Good luck and happy vectoring!