Careers Books

I listen to the CDs during my comute and it helps to reinforce the 7 habits of highly effective people.

It's difficult to give enough praise to what Stephen R. Covey does. I love reading his books and almost anyone will benefit from browsing through the different stories about how people had the courage to face their problems and change by engaging in positive behavior. To state the obvious, 'Living the 7 Habits' is an inspiring read. I would urge a bit of caution, however, in that the laboratory of the real world may not cooperate much with a person living the seven habits. On the other hand, Covey never says it's easy and he at least indirectly reminds the reader that incorporating the seven habits into one's life is an enormous amount of work.

Some of the stories are funny, some are quite sad, and they all demonstrate how the people who were challenged by life had to grow in some way. Living the seven habits is tough, and the reader cannot expect the world to play along, but trying is worth the effort, and the rewards from doing so can be more satisfying than a person ever imagined. I think the people that Covey wrote about in the book would agree.

In addition to about 300 pages of very readable, relevant stories about overcoming adversity and finding a better way of living, the book invites the reader to share stories that are similar to the ones in the book by writing the Franklin Covey Company. Covey also has a Q&A section at the back of the book which is insightful and fun to read. Altogether a very worthwhile book. econ

The audio is delivered in a monotone that almost puts you to sleep. Not a good thing while driving

This is real.

It's difficult to give enough praise to what Stephen R. Covey does. I love reading his books and almost anyone will benefit from browsing through the different stories about how people had the courage to face their problems and change by engaging in positive behavior. To state the obvious, 'Living the 7 Habits' is an inspiring read. I would urge a bit of caution, however, in that the laboratory of the real world may not cooperate much with a person living the seven habits. On the other hand, Covey never says it's easy and he at least indirectly reminds the reader that incorporating the seven habits into one's life is an enormous amount of work.

Some of the stories are funny, some are quite sad, and they all demonstrate how the people who were challenged by life had to grow in some way. Living the seven habits is tough, and the reader cannot expect the world to play along, but trying is worth the effort, and the rewards from doing so can be more satisfying than a person ever imagined. I think the people that Covey wrote about in the book would agree.

In addition to about 300 pages of very readable, relevant stories about overcoming adversity and finding a better way of living, the book invites the reader to share stories that are similar to the ones in the book by writing the Franklin Covey Company. Covey also has a Q&A section at the back of the book which is insightful and fun to read. Altogether a very worthwhile book. econ

I've been listening to Stephen Covey for years, and I think he's one of the wisest observers of the human spirit around.

While all of his programs are inspiring, Living the 7 Habits is probably the most moving - because it brings the 7 Habits to life, by showing how people have used them to change their lives for the better.

I was so moved hearing some of these stories, and even more moved when I realized that, thanks to Dr. Covey's wonderful guidance, I can bring the same wisdom and insight into my own life.

It's pretty clear that I was already familiar with the 7 Habits when I heard this, but you don't have to be - I recommend this as an excellent starting point for anybody who is encountering this way of living for the very first time, as well as for people like me who have heard and read a lot about it but can still use some help putting it to work on a day to day basis.

And what a generous program it is - nine compact discs long, but it doesn't even cost $30 ... even less with discounts!

Easy to read and easy to apply. I have a whole new thought process for copy on our website and brochures. This is a can't miss book for rookies!

This book is for a non-writer who needs to write advertising or marketing for his company.

The material is comprehensive and includes many good tips. A couple things to note--

1. The focus is on style and construction of materials (e.g., how to put together a direct mail piece), not on grammar, style, and construction of words.

2. Most of the book covers B2C marketing, not B2B.

All the advice is tried-and-true. If you follow it, you can't go wrong.

I bought this book for a good friend of mine, a skilled creative writer, but with little experience in writing professional copy. Like most creative types, he was looking for a job to support his writing and other artistic habits. With the help of Kranz's book, he was able to land a well-paying job that makes use of his talents, suitably focused by the advice in Writing Copy for Dummies. If proof of the pudding is in the paycheck, I can vouch for the effectiveness of this author's approach and suggestions for aspiring professional writers.

Kranz opens with a brief and witty definition of copywriting: "[it] attempts to persuade you to do or believe something-usually in regard to the surrender of your cash," then he launches into an explanation of the different things copy can do-everything from direct mail to branding to sales support; an explanation of "the basics" that is exactly that; and a truly step-by-step guide to writing sales letters and brochures.

Sidebars chip in along the way, occasionally offering a true gem, like the real difference between website headlines and their printed counterparts. And Kranz tells you why you should never waste your time and effort on a MISSION STATEMENT.

Based on the number of notes in the margins of my copy, I've found the chapters on websites, collateral, problem solving and "looking for ideas" the most helpful. Kranz also gives a detailed breakdown of what goes into a direct mail package, that should be enough to get any beginning mailer off to a promising start.

There are many books written about copywriting, that are aimed at business owners or the unfortunate folks who get stuck writing copy for their company because they once correctly used "presume" in an email. The nice thing about this one-and "nice" is a good word, because Jonathan Kranz is nothing if not a nice guy-is that it's a book about copywriting that doesn't assume non-copywriters know all the copywriting jargon and secrets. It takes its "For Dummies" title seriously, and that's a good thing.

I've been a copywriter for 14 years, most of the time as a freelancer. I've also been a senior copywriter for an advertising agency and worked in the creative department for a major newspaper.

This is the first book on copywriting I've bought in several years, and I'm now the newest fan of Jonathan Kranz's "Writing Copy for Dummies." Mr. Kranz has written an excellent book for the novice or pro, providing a complete, common-sense guide that covers the full range of marketing communications (including PR). Whether business-to-consumer or business-to-business, direct-response or branding, print or online, for-profit or non-profit, it's all there in an engaging writing style and easy-to-digest format.

After being in the freelance trenches for many years, I know how far-flung assignments can be. It's invaluable to have an all-encompassing reference to reach for when I need knowledge in non-specialty areas. In fact, just last Friday I reviewed parts of Chapter 17 in preparation for a fundraising project with a major university.

Some of the material might be a refresher for veteran marketers. As for me, I'm glad to benefit from a fellow pro's perspective on marketing and copywriting topics. As I told Jonathan via email, "I'm glad you took the time to write this book."

Donald T. Phillips does an exceptional job at narrating the life of the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He does an incredible job in tying in the aspects of Dr. King's life as a man, and activist together with the principals of Leadership.

He breaks down the book into 4 sections, that each details the start and end of the American Civil Rights movement. Phillips does an amazing job at chronicling the events that most shaped the philosophy of Dr. King.

I truly enjoyed this book because it helped me realize that it is possible for me to achieve my goals using the same techniques that Dr. King used. The book does a great job at outlining how a normal person can create change the way Dr. King did. Whether you live in turbulent times like those in which the Civil Rights took place or not.

I recommend this book to anyone in a leadership position to those who aspire to be leaders, but mostly to those with a goal to succeed. The knowledge you will acquire with this book is invaluable to future successes.

The book targets all, but I think it specifically aims to inspire African- Americans especially those who wish to be in leadership positions. The book in general is a great read for businesses and for groups in general. It informs the audience about the dynamics of groups and how to work through the problems that groups face.

It helps inform leaders as to the advantages and disadvantages of being a leader. Overall the book is a great read. And you will truly enjoy it.

Donald Phillips did a wonderful job of telling the story of Martin Luther King Jr. from his childhood to his death, and connecting it all to a marvelous leadership style. Being a student of leadership studies and a fan of Martin Luther King Jr., I chose this book as a study of both subjects. Having read it, I have to say I learned more about leadership from this book than any other I have read. However, I am no longer a fan of MLK......... he is now a hero of mine.

As Donald Phillips points out, for every major turning point in American history, creative leaders - right for the times and uniquely suited to the task - assume the mantle of leadership. Donald Phillips not only describes how MLK ended up at the mantle, but how and why he was the right person for the job.

MLK's movement is not the same civil rights movement being pushed by the self-serving, so-called, activists today. Read this book, you will learn about a true leader and what a true leader is. It is easy reading and inspiring. Highly recommended.

I am a student and a teacher of leadership skills, and I have found no better example than Martin Luther King Jr. This book combines the history of King's movement, but also chronicles the qualities which made King great. The text is easy to read, and fascinating. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Leadership should be required reading for anyone who hopes to impact their world. The famed Harvard psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, who studied moral development, named King as one of the greatest moral thinkers in history. Read this book, and you will understand why.

I picked up this book simply thinking it would be a great story about leadership, but the underlying history of Martin Luther King is riveting as well. The leadership stories translate well to business and personal leadership--they speak to (all) people wanting to be part of a higher, unifying mission. If you like to "mark-up" the margins with thoughts keep a pen handy for this one. Its a book I talked about with colleagues and family more than any other I've read.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech was voted the most electrifying public address of the twentieth century. It takes some kind of a leader to give that kind of a speech. Donald T. Phillips presents the ideals of leadership that Martin Luther King Jr. followed in an overview of the history of the civil rights struggle. Phillips describes the techniques King used at various stages of the civil rights battle. He also shares King's comments on leadership. Many of the principles will be quite familiar: listen to learn, lead by being led, awaken direct action, encourage creativity and involve the people. However, the book is especially interesting when it demonstrates how King put these principles into practice. This well-organized, well-written book is clear, direct, and easy to read. While it is written for the general public (especially for African-Americans and those interested in civil rights), we [...] find this book interesting for all managers and executives, particularly those who like to learn the lessons of history.

Very practical guide if you want to get started as a mortgage broker
This book gives you a step by step approach on how to establish your own
practice in this industry; I wish more books were written like this one!
Very enjoyable to read. This author has done an excellent job and I would highly
recommend this book to any new or seasoned mortgage broker.

I purchased this book because I recently got into the business. I have also purchased many other books by other authors in the same field. I have to say that this one is the most informative. The way it is written allows the reader to easily follow the flow of the book. By the end of the book , you feel as though you're a mortgage expert. A definate must have for people just starting out in the business.

I was really pleased with this book! I've just recently gotten started as a loan originator and I found this book to be really well written with tons of information without getting boring. Obviously loans aren't the most exciting topic out there, but the author throws some humor and real-life stories that keep you interested and entertained. He goes into a lot of depth on the process that you will go through with your clients. There are examples of all the forms (disclosures, 1003, etc) and at the end of the book there are a few mini chapters written by other mortgage brokers that give some interesting tips on how to create more business and run a more efficient operation. All in all, this was a really good book and I would recommend it to anyone getting started in the business!

If you've ever thought about becoming a mortgage loan officer, then this is the book for you. It provides details on extactly what's involved, how you make money, and the all-important mortgage lingo. I wish I had this book when I was recruiting people to join my company. It gives them a head start on what the biz is all about.

This is a great book if you are starting a staffing business. I had questions about the business that were troubling me for weeks. In a moment after reading a few chapters I had the answer. I highly recommend this book.

After reading and reviewing this book I felt relieved. It contained answers to questions I had, but over all its informing and straight to the point with details and advice. I would recomend it for any begging bussiness entrepreneur for a staffing service.

If you're going to invest a hundred thousand or so to start a staffing service (as stated in the book... but actually, you'd better be ready for lots more) then you're going to need A LOT more information than this kindergarten-level waste of paper provides.

In fact, you probably already know more about the staffing service than this book offers if you're just THINKING about starting a staffing firm.

A total waste.

I really think this is a great book for the rest of us. (Mean me the dummie) I am a new coach and it really makes it a lot easier to do my work with this book. I think that it was super. The Art of Graceful Change: Taming the Gremlin That Holds You Back

I purchased Life coaching for dummies about two weeks ago. I was looking for an introduction to becoming a life coach. This book is more geared for helping you to coach yourself. That being said, coaching yourself is a good way to understanding how to do it. At the end, there is a small section for would-be life coaches.

The book has a reasonable number of exercises to help you find balance or direction in your life, but I found the text describing the philosophy of life-coaching was wordy and vague- the exercises, however were clearly written.

The main lack in this book is it has only a tiny resource section. I would have liked to see a list of other books and websites, and also a section on avoiding charlatan's in this business.

Overall, a useful but rather limited book.

The book may have been written 5 years ago but the principles of investing still apply today. The book is detailed, easy to follow and a worthy read. Anyone interested in retiring will benefit from reading this book. I am using the book to make sure that I am ready when retirement age catches up with me.

Much of the information is out-dated. Many of the financial products referred to have changed alot over the years. This is true particulary about Variable Universal Life Insurance, as well as Variable Annuities. These products have greatly improved over the last 5 years, and much of the information in this book does not apply to the newer products.

The author is not licensed for insurance, not securities licensed, not an investment advisor, and is not a CFP. Therefore she does not have any clients. People who just write books can write almost whatever they want, and are not held to the same standards as licensed professionals. You should be careful of the advice you get from people who only make a living by writing books and articles, and are not licensed professionals.

Good basic information on various financial topics such as bonds, equities, 401k, pension, etc. But examples provided are out of date.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy's book Retirement Bible was informative and helpful as I plan for my retirement. It was in a format that even I could understand. I appreciated her help on buyer beware. I will probably hire a good financial advisor to assist and this book has educated me, so when I do interview advisors I hope they will be ready for all my questions.

Out of date and poorly written. Might be suited for a middle school class.

This is a book that provides great career advice for young business professionals given as an experienced and supportive mentor might provide. Keith Wyche (and Sonia Alleyne) have written this for minorities, but I think almost all of it is fabulous advice for anyone trying to build some steam in a business career. As a middle-aged white guy, I obviously have never been a gender or racial minority, so I cannot really address those issues from their perspective.

The book has twelve chapters besides its brief introduction. I think the first chapter on the importance of corporate culture is a great place to start. There are many companies you where you, as a person, will fit in and others where you won't. We all experience this. You also need to know if your goals can be met at a given company. For example, if it is a small family firm with family members in the leadership positions, don't expect that you are going to displace blood. Is it seniority based company or do they actually reward merit? You will want to know this before you invest a couple of years bringing in record sales and are told that you will have to wait your turn because there are people ahead of you in the line. If you want to be rewarded for excellent performance match yourself to a company that rewards based on actual performance. And always keep a your résumé shiny and developing possible next steps outside the company.

The other chapters advise you on the importance of managing how others see you. While you can't control it, how you present yourself and what you do have a big impact on it. You are also advised on how to properly make yourself visible, when to take a lateral promotion or not, when to leave your company for a new job or not, and warned about several career killers. Wyche points out that minorities don't often get second chances once a career gets derailed. So, this chapter can be critical advice.

The author also advises you to develop certain leadership skills so you can be seen as a leader. They are strategic visioning, execution, authentic leadership, flexibility and adaptability, awareness and political judgment, and personal accountability. I have seen many people of every background lack these qualities and misunderstand why they weren't given leadership positions. They blamed it on a lot of other factors other than their own lack of leadership qualities. Don't make that mistake.

Wyche also talks about the vital importance of being completely prepared, how to overcome gender bias, and the critical need to keep you skills fresh and up to date. The chapter on mentors and sponsors applies to everyone, but especially to minorities. This includes the importance of giving back and becoming a mentor and sponsor once you achieve success as a business professional. The last chapter advises you to never give up. The old saying is true; many battles are lost because one side gives up just before they might have won if they had pressed themselves a bit more. Tenacity is a wonderful quality in every part of life.

I like this book a great deal and can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to read it, but I understand why he focused it for minorities and think it is a terrific resource for them. In my view, though, most of it (nearly all of it) is simply fabulous advice for the up and comer.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

this book is MUCH better. The new edition deleted a LOT of the info from this edition ... guess what? The state board test still asks questions from this book! The new book has color pictures and notes in the margin. BIG DEAL! This edition of this book has helped me pass most of my tests in class. Without it, I would have done much worse. I keep it as reference. Milady, what were you THINKING when you brought out the new edition???? Put the info back into the new edition!!!!

This book is very thorough, up-to-date, and informative. I found it easy to read and follow, and the contents pages are very well-labeled, making it easy to find the desired information quickly. I would highly recommend this text to anyone looking to learn new skills or brush up on old skills.

This textbook is practically the only standard textbook that can be utilized by students preparing to become estheticians. However, the book needs to be brought up to current standards. Do not just print a new edition without updating the information, this stifles the profession!

Working through this book on a skin care course was very frustrating. The medical terms used were inaccurate and often contradictory.

Althought the basic skin care isues were dealt with efficiently the anatomy and physiology references were not consistent with current medical text books.

This publisher has many better books. Avoid this one.

I also used this book as a text in Aesthetics School - and at the time, I didn't appreciate it as much as now - when I'm working in the field. I find myself going back and reviewing what I may have missed the first time.
This book has got it all!
- How to Portray a Professional Image (you'd be amazed how many don't know this! yikes...=0) )
- A History of Skin Care and Cosmetics
- Bacteriology
- Sterilization & Disinfection for salon safety
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Disorders of the Skin & Special Procedures
- Ingredient & Product Analysis
- Nutrition & Health of the Skin
- Client Consultation & Skin Analysis
- Massage Techniques
- and more....

I have the '99 version and found that it has helpful and effective to answer most questions that I may have had.
Sure, there are a few errors that can easily be modified - but they are not worth missing this book over!
Very Comprehensive and easy to tackle. I recommend!

While this text offers a comprehensive treatment of the subject, I found it to be somewhat too verbose. There should be more diagrams and other comprehension aids. At times it felt as though I was reading a doctoral thesis.