Careers Books

I bought this book for a friend who wanted to get into pharmaceutical sales, but she had no outside sales experience. She read the book cover to cover, referenced it daily, and in 3 months, she had her dream job. Thank you Tom!

If you are even remotely thinking of breaking into the pharmaceutical or medical sales industry - BUY THIS BOOK!! Because of this book I just got hired with Johnson & Johnson as a pharmaceutical sales rep. I had no prior experience in this industry and I beat out 3 other qualified candidates because I followed Tom's advice to a T. I highly recommend this book if you are seeking a job in the pharma or medical sales industry. It is an extremely difficult task to get hired in this industry but once you do you will be so proud of yourself and on your way to a fulfilling life-long career.

Pharmaceutical sales can be an intimidating industry. Tom Ruff's knowledge will point you in the right direction towards success.

I greatly enjoyed the book and have suggested it to many on my friends that are looking into entering the field of pharmaceutical sales. I thought it was extremely beneficial to read to get a flavor of what a pharmaceutical representative do on a day to day basis and how to get into the field. Read this before revising your resume and interviewing for positions it can also save you time in the end if you decide Pharm sales isn't for you.

It is so important for job seekers to get advice from people actually working in their desired industry. If you are interested in a career in pharmaceutical sales, Tom Ruff is the ideal advisor. Tom is the founder of Tom Ruff Company, a recruiting company specializing in the pharmaceutical industry. His book provides a true insider's guide to the entire process of finding and winning a job in this popular and competitive field.

What I particularly like about Tom's book are the many tips that only someone in the pharma industry would know. He shares lists of common interview questions, big mistakes to avoid, inside info on the largest pharma companies (and the differences between them) and sample resumes and email messages that will help readers stand out from the crowd.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a job in pharma sales--or even those who are thinking about doing so.

Lindsey Pollak
Author, "Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World"

From the time I purchased my copy of Designed for Success I have not been able to put it down. It has been so informative and has changed the way I think about my work and my employer. It is one of those books that will not be put away on a shelf. I will be reading it over and over again. Great job Dondi!

Rita
Rome,GA

It's not just our imagination. Women do have unique challenges when it comes to the workplace. Women are often overlooked for promotions. They tend to make less money. Many find themselves delineated to den mother status.

With that said, much of what happens in the workplace is of our own making. We patiently wait for our boss to notice our efforts. We shy from conflict or any sort of negotiations. Then, when we are asked for input, we talk more about our problems than our successes.

Designed for Success looks at both the problems that women often experience in the workplace and the unique qualities that they possess. Given the right outlook, the appropriate skills, and understanding of workplace dynamics women can be a valuable asset to the office.

Designed for success is a must read
From cover to cover it covers all achievable goals
Practical step to gain success in the work place
The greatest point; it's Biblical base

This book can alter the way you conduct your business in the work place. It touches on things that a lot of writers won't address and gives you thought provoking ideas that are subtle but can change perceptions such as not to rock back and forth (which I tend to do). This book can be used individually or in a study group, but hang on because you will start to look at all aspects of the way you act, look and think. This book could use an associated work book. Dondi is refreshing and funny and has a way of telling stories that will tickle you yet make you think. I would definitely suggest reading it and passing one along to someone else. Men should read this book as well. If we all have to work together, we may as well try to understand one another.This book can alter the way you conduct your business in the work place. It touches on things that a lot of writers won't address and gives you thought provoking ideas that are suttle but can change perceptions such as not to rock back and forth (which I tend to do). This book can be used individually or in a study group, but hang on because you will start to look at all aspects of the way you act, look and think. This book could use an associated work book. Dondi is refreshing and funny and has a way of telling stories that will tickle you yet make you think. I would definately suggest reading it and passing one along to someone else. Men should read this book as well. If we all have to work together, we may as well try to understand one another.

If you want to be treated equal with a man in the workplace you need to read this book and impliment everything Dondi talks about. Then you will see yourself get that raise or promotion. Easy reading.

This is a very informative, easily read book. I would recommend it those people interested or involved in mediumship

John Holland is a psychic medium who has authored several books, CDs, lectured, taught, and appeared on several TV shows, including The History Channel, A & E, and Unsolved Mysteries. Put simply, John is able to talk to those who have passed on and to receive and relay messages from them. I absolutely love the books and CDs by John. Although John does tend to repeat material, it's all good stuff and each book or CD expands on the material that has been used in another book or CD. His material is thorough, easy to understand, and right on target. It is also chocked full of useful tips. I have found it all tremendously useful in my own spiritual development. And, if you are listening to a CD of John's, especially one with meditations, you will likely find his voice very soft and very conducive to achieving a relaxed state of consciousness. Put simply, I find it really easy to get into a meditative state with John's CDs and to do it quickly.

"Power of the Soul" is a book about discovering the power deep within you, within your soul and learning how to direct that power in a positive manner. Yes, the book is full of information, meditations, tips, and tools. This is powerful self-discovery, spiritual path stuff. It is NOT a magic book. If you are interested in achieving a more balanced and spiritual life, consider this book. A spiritual pat takes work and it is a continual journey forward.

The 8 chapters of this book are:
1) Understanding the Soul--about the soul, as consciousness, the true essence of a person. This chapter speaks of going inward to discover your true self, dredging up what you have hidden inside, and facing it. It discusses a Buddhist technique "The Mindfulness of Breathing" and the importance of breathing correctly to achieve a state of stillness. John then teaches you exercises to achieve proper breathing. He also talks about achieving your soul's purpose, also discovering the gifts of your soul and using them in your everyday life.
2) Acknowledging the Source--the Source is defined as God, the Universe, or a Higher Consciousness, whatever your preference. He explains the concepts of synchronicities (aka. co-incidences), dream messages, gratitude, believing in the impossible, thoughts manifesting into reality, visualizations, and affirmations.
3) The Unfoldment of Your Soul Senses--learning the language of the soul--how to achieve mindful stillness, meditation, the clairs (what they are and why they are important and possible indicators of each). (Clairsentience, Clairaudience, Clairvoyance) and the Chakras (internal energy vortexes).
4) The Power of Love--the importance of love and kindness from a soul perspective.
5) The Healer Within--healing within yourself, forgiveness, including forgiving yourself.
6) Breaking Free: Turning the Past into a Bridge for the Future--negative thoughts, fear, worry--what they do to us--realizing these syndromes and breaking free of them
7) Journey of the Soul--reincarnation, wounds of the soul, wake-up calls, respecting another individual's path
8) Soul Living--stepping into your personal soul power

John has also included examples and discoveries of people he has met, known, and taught as well as his own experiences. He includes training exercises and meditations. If you want to develop your psychic abilities, John's book can help you and he also has some CD products to teach you more on psychic awareness (check my other reviews). But if you just want to learn more about the beauty within you and develop your spirituality, John can help you with that too. There is good info here. How far you take it, how much you put into developing yourself spiritually, and how far you progress, well, that's up to you. What I have found is simply like anything else--the more effort you put into developing yourself, the more you get back. (Step one--my opinion--if you have any negative junk in you, get rid of it. It makes it so much easier to progress.)

Update: May, 2008. Just saw John in person at a conference in Hershey, PA. He was absolutely wonderful. He provided a lot of useful information. He also did several readings and he had several people in tears with the information he "read" from their deceased friends/relatives/etc. (Tears are good, folks.) I think he really helped some people address some guilt they had stuffed inside themselves for who knows how many years. John was knowledgeable, funny, and very natural. He was very comfortable to talk to. In other words, he was not uppity. And I believe without a doubt that he is a 100% genuine psychic medium.

I loved this book! I love John Holland! He explains step by step how to be in touch with your soul and so much more!

Like everyone else, my world seemed to be crashing down upon me. I was turned onto "The Secret" by a friend and into the Hicks/Abraham books. I was amazed to find that I already practiced/believed some things they teach. My mother read Jane Roberts/Seth, but I couldn't get into those books. When I was at a low point, I went into Amazon.com and somehow, I found this book. Thank you Amazon.com! This book has helped me face my demons, change my thought process and become happy. No, it didn't happen overnight, but it has happened. My daily stress headaches have become less often. I'm actually practicing the exercises and moving along slowly. My first impression in some of the sections was "yeah, right, uh-huh". Then I re-read and I'm actually understanding. He writes so you can understand and practice. Some sections I would actually cry during the exercises, but kept going. I plan to purchase the paperback copy just so I will have a copy with me if I start to crash and he indicates this happens. At least he tells us how we can achieve inner peace/harmony and you have to work for it. Sappy, but, I can't explain how important this book has been for me and my life.

this will open your eyes to who we really are it will help you connect to the spirit within it is well written and a must to read if you want to learn about spirit world and were our own power comes from another great read is the calling of your true self elizabeth anne bell mixed together they are speaking a lot of truths both will help you with answers to the spirit and soul within

My dad bought me this book after hearing about it on National Public Radio and, at first, I was a bit skeptical.
I mean, who really wants to waste time reading another boring 'How to' book on how to get a cool job?

But really, this book isn't like that at all.
It's factual of course, so you don't have to worry about how much of it is just hot air.
But it's also very comical, interesting, and respectfully realistic.
Not a candy-coater, but in no ways a dream crusher.

What more could you ask for <3?

I don't like bad language but like what this book has to offer. I purchased it for my daughter who is embarking on her new career after college. This is a good read.

Most career books I've read try to herd us into the same jobs without thinking out of the box. There are tons of other interesting, fun and well paying jobs out there that rarely seem to get mentioned. This book lists quite a few examples. It was a blast to read. It really helps expand your thinking and it makes the thought of a career change actually exciting!! And the income figures given are realistic too. Most other career books are way too low for whatever reason.

A great book and a great read!!

David Rosen's book, "What's That Job and How the Hell Do I Get It?", features TONS of useful information about professional and creative careers, and is written in a funny, down-to-earth voice that will have you laughing the entire way through. It's a must-read for those looking for a career, and also for people curious about the "day-to-day" of a ton of interesting (and sometimes quirky) jobs. Highly recommended!

This book is great! It really opened my eyes to a lot of careers I never would have even heard of.

This book is about Henry who wants to get a job delivering papers. A funny part of the book is when is goes to apply for the paper route. On the way, he stops at a rummage sale where there is a box with four kittens for sale for 5 cents each. He buys them all and tries to hide them in his shirt when he applies for the paper route. When he knocks on the door of the man who hires people for the job, a dog is at the door. The dog growls at Henry and one of the kittens pops out of his shirt. He pushes the kitten down, and it scratches him. The whole thing is a fiasco and he is told to come back in a year or two when he is older. It you want to know more about other funny things that happen to Henry or if he gets the paper route, I recommend you read this book.

This was the first Henry book I read, so it got me into the rest of them. Imagine a ten-year-old boy trying to look like a grown-up while a kitten pokes its head out of his jacket. This book is a delightful voyage into the lives of kids and animals in America.

As with the previous books, Henry and the Paper Route is written in chapter book style where each chapter is almost a short story in-and-of-itself and which all wind their way toward the ultimate goal (each book Henry has that ONE thing he's got to get or do) which makes for interesting reading, wondering how each part will ultimately work out with the end goal. It's clear from the title that this volume in the Henry Huggins series is all about Henry and his desire to get a paper route all his own and as the chapters go on, we see how he goes about proving he's ready to do that! With this book we also get to read more about Beezus and Ramona, Scooter, Ribsy and more!

Henry and the Paper Route is six chapters of boyishly good adventure geared toward Henry obtaining the paper route of his dreams! We start out with Henry in hot water over bringing home four kittens...this chapter is all about him making an interesting first impression with Mr. Capper (the newspaper guy). The second chapter is about his tireless search to find good homes for those kittens. Chapter three Henry engineers a clever plan to help his class get ahead in the school paper drive and in chapter four we find out if his plan was successful or not! Chapter five Henry meets Murph, boy genius and finds that Murph has transferred into the paper route he's had his eye on! Oh, no...in chapter six will Henry finally get that route or is he destined to only fill in and help Scooter out? Your young reader will love finding out!

I give this book five stars...though the Henry Huggins series was written in the 1940's and 50's and have a bit of a Leave It to Beaver feel with regards to the traditional family roles and quaint feel of the daily life of the kids in them...they are also rather timeless. Putting aside the money issues (yea, everything cost WAY less in these books than they do today), Henry Huggins is a clean cut typical boy looking for a bit of fun...but he's also honest, hard working, and clever in thinking of ways to get what he wants (the advertising thing for the paper drive for example)...and he's always respectful even when he's trying to scheme to get what he wants! Henry and the Paper Route (and all the other books in this series) are well worth reading...these are kids classics for a reason, because they are timelessly entertaining!

I am 8 years old. I like all of the Beverly Cleary books. This book is funny. I especially liked the part when Ramona pinned a jump rope to her overalls and pretended she was a monkey. She went to the store with her family, and some people joked around and thought she was a new species for sale. Then she thought they were not joking and she ran away from the store. Ramona is four in this book, and she is my favorite character in the Beverly Cleary books.

Henry Huggins is part of the world of Ramona and Beezus Quimby, a pair of sisters who have launched a dozen or so books by Beverly Cleary.

In this outing, Henry is fixated on becoming a paperboy, but Mr. Capper won't hire him because he's only ten, and you need to be eleven to deliver papers. Henry tries scheme after scheme, but nothing works, and then matters go from bad to worse when a boy genius moves into the neighborhood and picks up the route that Henry wanted. Henry is confounded by this development, but finds that he is better than the genius at one thing: dealing with Ramona, who is determined to sabotage the route at any cost.

Since Henry Huggins first rode his bicycle onto the scene fifty years ago, the world has moved on, making his aw-shucks manner and quaint problems seem antiquated and distant from your savvy modern pre-teen.

That being said, the stories are still amusing for young readers, and some of the elements, such as dealing with young pests, are universal. If you like other books by Beverly Cleary, this one will go down nicely, and if you're a boy thinking of giving Cleary a try, you might feel more comfortable starting with this one, which features a boy protagonist (although I think all of the books appeal to both genders).

I don't think this book is worthwhile to the public. The author borders on the edge of intelligent design and creates unbased analogies in his book about how things just work out.

I can't think of examples because I honeslty tossed this book in the trash and am just writing a review because for some reason Amazon has this book as one its recommendations for me.

Lipton's book turns our understanding of the world inside out: it is not the DNA inside the cells that controls them, but the interaction of the outer cell membrane receptors with their environment. Starting from what is known and accepted, the author extrapolates to what transcends accepted science. Along the way he presents to the reader a thorough description of cell biology. It is all quite remarkable, but will you dare follow where he leads? How the mind affects the body's health? The effect that mother's emotions have over the development of the fetus? How some hydrocephalic children have high IQs although they lack most of their physical brain?

And then there is the matter of matter. The author points out that everything in the universe consists of atoms, and atoms are made out of [electrons and quarks] invisible energy not tangible matter. And since all energy in the universe should be describable by one mathematical expression, everything is inter-related, everything communicates with everything else. One could follow many paths from here, but Lipton concentrates on how our personal beliefs affect our physical cells: how many of these beliefs, formed from as early as our fetus days, lie hidden in our unconscious only to surface unexpectedly and affect our cells in completely mysterious ways.

The author saves most of his personal conclusions for the epilogue: a discussion of our conscious selves, our personal relationship with everything else in our environment (which he calls the Divine), and mankind's next step up the evolution ladder. He concludes that "The survival of the Most Loving is the only ethic that will ensure not only a healthy personal life but also a healthy planet." He thus joins the considerable number of scientists who have discovered that the effect of love exceeds the boundaries of religion and should be treated as a real and potent power in the universe.

(The writer is the author of The Way of the Butterfly: A Scientific Speculation on God and the Hereafterand of "Christianity Without Fairy Tales: When Science And Religion Merge.")

Often, personal stories of discovery in books on physics/healing/cosmology, etc, tend to be tedious and self-indulgent. Not so with Bruce Lipton's work, "The Biology of Belief". Not only are his descriptions and analogies for his discoveries and insights into cell biology and consciusness clear and concise, but one finds oneself swept along through the book by Lipton's own great enthusiasm for his subject.

This is a ground-breaking book based on ground-breaking, risk-taking science. I congratulate Lipton on a wonderful work that is intellectually stimulating, enjoyable, and thought-provoking. Lipton is bringing biology into the new spiritual era of quantum theory, and placing the power for our own healing of life and body squarely onto ourselves. A must-read!

I have referenced this book to so many people I cannot count. When I encounter people who do not understand the actual biology and physics of the "attraction principles", I send them to Lipton who does a superb job. He is able to clearly describe what a non-scientist can understand, while using scientific backbone to support his views. I am glad this one is on my shelf.

If you really want to understand what is going on inside out of you, please read this book. Excellent reading.

One of the hardest challenges that many new and even experienced life coaches face is marketing. In Four Steps to Building a Profitable Coaching Practice, Deborah Brown-Volkman's goal is to show these coaches how to build a practice by following the steps she details in her book. As a beginning coach myself, I definitely knew it'd be a good idea to read her book.

This book delivers a lot of good marketing ideas and more importantly coaching assignments that can really help a coach both define and begin to promote his/her practice. I've incrementally been doing the exercises and found all of them useful in defining and enhancing my practice. Also I really appreciate that the approximate time and cost is listed to give the coach an idea of what costs are involved.

What I've really found useful is that the book breaks everything down into a step by step approach. This is especially important when you first start a practice, because it can be overwhelming to contemplate how you are going to get your business off the ground. With this book, it makes it much easier to take off and grow your business.

One thing I did find odd is that while the author did focus on a variety of ways to promote she left out things like promoting via flyers and where it would be a good idea to do so. Still this is one book I think every life coach should consider buying. I know I'll be using it for a long time to come in growing my own business.

This book was a great read and outlined step by step what you would need to do to get a coaching practice off the ground. The resources that are listed in this book are invaluable. It is awesome to have everything you need at your fingertips. I have already browsed various web-sites as a result of this book and it has saved me time of browsing the internet aimlessly. The book also points out the pros and cons regarding accepting different payment methods and once again it links you to where you can do further research. I love that the author breaks down the cost and projected start time for each project. I love this book!

I have looked through this book, and have read the first part. The coaching exercises I have encountered so far are very thought provoking. You have to work out a lot of things as you go in this book. It is only a quick read if you skip all the work. It is almost like actually working with a coach because of how interactive it is. I am going gradually as I figure out my plan. I can't do some of the exercises yet because I don't know all the answers at this point. It really helps you develop an overall business plan, and the results of that are that you know exactly why you are making all the choices you make in establishing your practice.

It is a very easy guide to read. As a Coach and experienced Sales Professional, it provides practical and effective excercises to follow.

I recommend this book for new and experienced Coaches.

Unfortunately, this is the first book I've actually returned to Amazon. The information is fine if you've never owned or managed a business before and have no idea what you're doing. But with all due respect to the author, this is kindergarten level material. I've already been in business for a number of years and found nothing helpful.

If you're just getting started or re-entering the business world after a prolonged time off, go ahead and get the book. If you already have a business, you don't need this book--and probably could have written it yourself.

Congratulations to Emira and Lauren for writing this excellent book. I am half way through, and reading it seriously: I am reading a couple of chapters at night, and going back and answering the questions by day in writing. I plan on starting my own PR business, and this book has become a bit of a "manifesto" for me. What I love most is the basic, practical advice it offers, along with the encouragement. It's positive and reassuring, yet direct about the pitfalls of making mistakes with your business.

Next, I love the feminist subtext of this book: that us women deserve to be paid what we're worth, and I loved the urge ("We beg of you, close the wage gap between men and women!") to price ourselves appropriately, and not modestly.

"The Boss of You" is hitting me on a few levels, inspires me, and is giving me courage to get my ducks in a row for the eventual launch day (still a ways off - but definitely in the works).

I really hope the Oprah producers come across this book and get these two rockin' chicks on the Oprah show. Talk about "living your true life" - and earning a living while doing so - !

When meeting a graphic designer to work on my logo, she kept grabbing the book and flipping through it and said, "okay. I really have to get this."

I encourage anyone (men, too) who has a dream of starting a business to get this book. My only wish is that it was edited to remain Canadian in the spelling, but this is a superminor quibble.

GET THE BOOK, PEOPLE.

Cheers,
Liz Parker
Publicist

Great book. Useful information to understand the nuts and bolts of starting a business. I highy recommend this book!

Having started my own business "accidently" - one contract led to another, led to another and before I knew it I was juggling clients - I hadn't done a lot of the planning they discuss in the first half of the book. So despite already being up and running, reading this book was a fantastic opportunity to bring some clarity/structure to what I was doing. Its so easy when you are self employed to never turn down work and The Boss of You, really helped me identify what work is good for me and my business to be doing, and what stuff I should be trying to phase out of. I help businesses plan and develop their own communications. A lot of my clients are new businesses and haven't necessarily done all of the thinking/planning that Mears/Bacon walk readers through - it was helpful to be given a framework to help my clients do that on the way to identifying what their messaging is. And, the book was a refreshing departure from what I call the "cod liver oil" business books - good for you but yucky. Nice to be able to enjoy something that was good for me. The humour was greatly appreciated.

AMAZING!!! What an enjoyable & resourceful read for anyone considering starting their own business...Hilarious & Edgy, I read it cover to cover and got loads of great ideas for my new creative business venture..thank you ladies...FIVE STARS hands down!

This book was pretty good. The authors have written a small business book that includes what most other startup guides or workbooks include that are packed with good content on the subject. However, these ladies have written the book specifically targeting young women or stay-at-home moms. The writing style is very similar to the book by Michelle Goodman entitled "The Anti 9-5 Guide" (ISBN: 1580051863).

Interestingly "The Boss of You" is endorsed by Ms. Goodman and it shares the same publisher as Ms. Goodman's book. And we learn from reading the book that the authors and Ms. Goodman have become friendly while writing the book. If you liked Ms. Goodman's book, then you will like this book, too - I'm pretty sure.

This book is full of questions a wanta-be entrepreneur needs to ask when trying to conceptualize a startup and get it up and running. In a way this was a workbook as well as a guide. Early in the book there are exercises that the authors want the reader to complete in writing. I thought that was wonderful. They cover the following topics quickly and well:

1. Business goals
2. Success
3. Identify your strengths (and weaknesses)
4. Identify your product and/or services
5. Identify who you are going to sell to
6. Figure out your costs
7. Create an appropriate and good name for the biz
8. Jot all this down in some sort of a plan

I would have liked the book more if it had gone more heavily into home-based businesses and Internet marketing. It's my hunch that those topics are on the mark with the target audience of this book. I also would have liked to have seen a discussion of a formal business plan. I know the authors say there probably is no need to write a formal plan, but they do indicate some sort of plan is a good idea. By providing a brief overview of a formal plan the reader could put together a "some sort of plan."

The authors talk about having formed a partnership when they started their Web design business in 2000. And they talk about the importance of having a written Partnership Agreement. But on the back cover of the book the name of their company has an INC at the end of it. So did they start a partnership or did they start a corporation? The book doesn't say much about Choice of Legal Entity - either theirs or the options available. I personally would recommend that readers consider a Limited Liability Company (LLC)instead of a mere partnership. And for the multi-member variety of LLC I would highly recommend creating a written Operating Agreement which is much like a partnership agreement.

I loved the little sidebars in this book. And I thought the book was well outlined. However, it came across a little wordy in the beginning for me when it was clear the authors were trying to create a certain feel for the book and cater to young women and housewives. That just was not my cup of tea. But the book is packed with good real life experiences and words of wisdom from two ladies (and others) who have successfully started their own small business. And, as a result, I have to recommend this book to wanta-be entrepreneurs as a small business book worthy of being purchased and read. 4 stars!

Fantastic book! Chock-full of practical ideas for coping in the real world, from someone on the autism spectrum who is highly successful in her life

By my having AS, along with ADHD, I was looking for a book that would give me some insight on the type of careers that people with AS may gravitate towards and how those with AS cope and succeed in an NT work environment.

For careers, not much insight as the gist was to try and make a career out of your special interest, which can vary among aspies. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it means that the career options are many for those of us with AS.

My second objective of learning how aspies can function effectively in the workplace was more disappointing. Most of the advice was things you could find in traditional career books. Not much on how to interview well, given our social challenges, or how to promote accomplishments because of the tendency to want to work alone. These are just two examples.

The book does a fair job of explaining AS and how it could present challenges in the workplace, but all in all, nothing insightful that can be used to find or succeed in a career.

Most of this book offers parents assistance in educational needs of their lower functioning autisitc children. However, the list of possible job types is limited to manual laborer jobs. After having worked (and lived) with children in the autistic spectrum, I believe they are capable of much more than this book offers them. I would liketo see the authors add a list of secondary schools that offer admissins to children on the autistic spectrum along with assistance in the application process.

Dr. Grandin has taken her knowledge, expertise and sensitivity one step further in Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. She offers many ideas for those affected by or those working with these individuals. This area is filled with people of talent who are underemployed. An example of one of the suggestions offered - an individual who is interested in cartoons and spends their days drawing - all day - being encouraged to go to a museum of cartooning, learning about different kinds of cartoons, the history of cartoons which expands their interest - meeting others with the same interest. It is not enough to have a talent or the intellectual ability to understand complex things. Without work, Dr. Grandin explains, her life would not have had order, content or meaning. She covers many different kinds of jobs that people on the autism spectrum can accommodate to and ones that would be more difficult for them. The book is well thought out and because Dr. Grandin is herself on the spectrum and spends so much of her time speaking to others at her many presentations she has analyzed a great deal of what works and what does not. This book is an absolute must read! I run a large group for parents, professionals and individuals and it is one of my first recommendations. This book gives concrete suggestions and hope.

"Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism", by Temple Grandin and Kate Duffy. APC(Autism Asperger Publishing Co.), KS 2004. ISBN 1-93-1282-56-0 Pbk. 140/153 pages includes 5 pgs. Ref., and Append. 3 pgs., 6 pgs. Disclosure, & 9 pgs. Job tips and development. Some charts, no illustrations. 9" x 6".

A carefully written and documented treatise on practical methods to nurture, acquire and maintain employment of individuals with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders) and especial reference to those having Asperger's Syndrome, i.e., a high or higher-functioning level of autism either with or without specific talents. The authors have particular first-hand knowledge of ASD by either being affected or children with autistic traits.

So, yes, this is a "how to" book that should prove to be an important informational guide on structuring realistic avenues that can lead to eventual employment in the workforce, clearly pointing out the need for early intervention (parents), focusing on development of talents into marketable skills and managing the environmental and social factors that may be devastating to those potentially employable ASDs using mentors whenever possible.

The writers have skillfully outlined the many basic problems encountered in ASD together with mitigating means to overcome such difficulties. In ASD there is a neurological disability which often is manifest via magnitude, separation, and response of the various sense modalities (touch, taste, sound, visual). This imbalance and admixture or crossing-over of sensory modalities is associated with frustrations, anger, withdrawal, and distraction from mild stimuli such as fluorescent light flickering, roughness of clothing, strong scents and includes avoidance of eye contact, crowds, and careless grooming, etc. Using "white noise", gum chewing, exercise, soft clothing, incandescent bulbs, tinted glasses, "counting to 10" and counseling can do wonders. Using networking, hobbies, portfolio creation, and focusing on improving enjoyed skills can lead to successful employment.

The appendix briefly covers the ADA of 1990 and many available resources. Authors point out many of the computer nerds or geeks are believed to have Asperger, that many have exceptional skills to contribute to society as a whole, the caveat being that their societal integration faces many pitfalls which can be avoided or cushioned, and these are succinctly spelled out in this manual. With statistics revealing that upwards of 1 in 166 children are currently diagnosed with ASD, it is a certainty you will undoubtedly encounter many of them in the schools, workplace, gatherings, and etc., ergo this guide is helpful for all.