change Books

"Troublemaker" tells the story of Chester Finn's journey through American education - from young student to teacher, from graduate student to professor, from one reform position he held to another, and through the sometimes frustrating process of attempting to obtain the best education for his children and grand-children. At the same time, "Troublemaker" is also primarily a recounting of the never-ending efforts at reforming (improving?) public education.

Early in the book Finn briefly recounts the 1966 Coleman Report findings - that student achievement varied as much within schools as between, and that school differences were far less consequential than people had long assumed. This news came shortly after SAT scores peaked in 1964. Nonetheless, Americans in ever-increasing numbers believe that "more money" for schools can solve our lagging international pupil achievement problem - eg. the 6/13/08 "USAToday" reports 32% in 1965 believed schools needed more money, vs. 57% today.

Between those years we have heralded the implementation of bilingual education, gender equality in college sports, affirmative action, busing, special education, equity of funding, increased teacher union membership and militancy (attain improved salaries, protection from urban community conflicts), school choice and vouchers, a federal Department of Education, multiculturalism, ethnic and gender studies, child-centered learning, "professionalism" of teachers (putting them in charge, vs. elected officials), values-free education, back to basics, core-knowledge curriculum (knowledge builds upon knowledge), high-stakes testing manipulation of tests, phonics vs. whole language, thinking mathematically vs. accurate methodology and results, a more than doubling of per-pupil inflation-adjusted spending, "No Child Left Behind," etc. Meanwhile, 17-year-old NAEP pupil achievement scores have remained virtually unchanged, and we still lag most other developed nations.

The good news is that a few stars have shown brightly during this period - eg. Community School District #4 in New York City, Prince George's County Schools in Maryland, Jaime Escalante in L.A., and the Houston public schools under Dr. Paige. Mr. Escalante became frustrated with roadblocks and opposition, and quit, Houston's achievements turned out to be largely fraudulent, and the innovators at Community School District #4 and Prince George's County have mvoed on and faded from the memory of most. Nonetheless, Dr. Finn remains bullish.

"Troublemaker" would benefit considerably if Dr. Finn had also addressed the transitory nature of these successes, the resiliency of the status quo, as well as the generally poor quality of education research (lack of proper statistical controls, confusing operational with statistical significance), and the system's failure to sustain improvements - eg. Head Start, earlier grade-level improvements.

Finally, Dr. Finn shortchanges Coleman's findings and fails to adequately address the potential for pupil achievement via increased parental and pupil motivation. The continued examples of "over-achieving" Asian and Jewish pupils within the U.S. are not to be ignored. They mirror the "secrets" of Asian households revealed by Dr. Stevenson at the U. of Michigan and hold the secret for widespread significant and sustained improvement in America.

Troublemaker, by Chester E. Finn

Checker Finn made trouble using his fine prose, as well as other ways; the the book is a delight to read. You get the history of education policy initiatives, and failures, since Sputnik was launched, as well as an account of his efforts to affect things in the key positions he has held. Of course, you are not going to agree with troublemakers all the time.

Paul E. Barton

This is much the best education book I've read in ages, a delightful blend of history, autobiography, humor and policy talk. Though often called a conservative, the author turns out to be more of a radical, a family man, a goodhearted (and sometimes frustrated) father and grandfather, and a genuine human being. He has penned a balanced, thoroughly readable (and sometimes laugh-out-loud amusing)account of major developments in American primary-secondary education over the past half century or so, intertwined with his own life and work in this field. You won't encounter a clearer recounting of U.S. school reform efforts--or a more enjoyable book on the subject.

This is a question every elementary child asks their parent or teacher. Don't know the answer? Read this cute book and you will find out! A great book to teach one science concept of fall. Do leaf rubbings of leaves collected on a walk and you and your child will have a great afternoon of learning. Excellent text and pictures.

I used this book this semester while student teaching with a Kinder class. The kids really loved the illustrations, and the explanation of why the leaves fall. They were fascinated with the explanation of the pigment for red, yellow, and orange already being there. I'd reccomend it with older children too, as they might enjoy the science behind it even more, and there's more opportunities to actually have them describe the leaves and observe leaves in a section the way the book shows us we can.

I have this book in my preschool classroom, but it is not one that I read at storytime. We use it as a resource when one child begins to question how or why the leaves change color. It is a helpful resource for me as an adult to understand the process, yet in simple language and with pictures to make it interesting for children.

I am a marriage and family therapist and I highly recommend this book. It is the best book on managing emotions and putting the individual in control. Particularly the chapter on anger was incredibly useful and gives the skills to transform a person who feels any emotions (ie. anger, depression, anxiety, etc.) are out of balance. I have recommended this book to many of my clients and have witnessed dramatic results as a result of them using these principles. Rick A. Jass, MA

Dr. Gary McKay and Dr. Don Dinkmeyer are practicing psychologists who have co-authored several books. How You Feel Is Up To You: The Power Of Emotional Choice is their latest offering, in which they teach readers how to gain control of their feelings. They say their book "is designed to help you gain control over your strong unpleasant emotions--guilt, anger, depression, stress, anxiety--and increase your joy and happiness. The doctors first discuss emotions, explaining how and why they're created. They then show how negative emotions can be replaced with positive feelings like joy and happiness. The trick is in learning how to change your thinking. Five basic principles are the key to changing the way you think. First you must learn to accept your feelings and yourself, then remind yourself to live in the present, rather than the past. Thirdly, you need to recognize the purpose of negative feelings. Then you need to become aware of your thoughts, and finally, develop a plan for change. Each of these principles is fully discussed, with detailed instructions and exercises for incorporating them into your life. Self-discovery exercises are sprinkled throughout the book, to help guide you through the steps. The doctors also provide real-life examples from their privatepractices. McKay and Dinkmeyer say that "choice is powerful; it sets you free." They explain that "while you may be able to do little or nothing about a change that results from external circumstances in your life, you can decide how you will respond. Your response is in your control." They offer practical help in learning how to gain control of your responses, so that you can choose your emotions. Readers who are tired of anger, depression, guilt, and all the other familiar negative emotions will find How You Feel Is Up To You an effective teacher of the skills they need for making healthier and happier choices. Sandra I. Smith

In my work as a teacher educator, I recommend this book constantly. Filled with songs, stories, and examples, it is practical and filled with ideas to use on Monday morning. The thing I like best about it is that it does more than recommend that teachers build community - it provides activities that can be used daily in inclusive classrooms.

I really enjoyed the way Mara Sapon-Shevin writes -- everything flows, everything is connected, and her choice of words is apt and evocative. It's also very well organized. Her ideas are elegant and yet simple, clear, and concise. She names the problems that exist and ways to address them, and illustrates them well with clear examples.

I found her discussions of competition, cooperation, children's feelings, etc., most interesting. I can see why she's sought after as a speaker across the country and world. She expresses ideas that our world needs, and expresses them fluently, passionately, honestly (sharing her own experiences), and convincingly.

If you are a teacher or a person who cares about children this is the book for you. As a teacher I have used this book and have had fantastic results. Creating an environment for students that is positve and inclusive is the only way teachers can end violence and negativity in their classrooms. This book is pack full of activities that will help build a caring community of students in the classroom. The activities also transcend the school environment. It is perfect for companies who want to build employee relationships that are positive and productive. If I could only describe the author in one word it would be Amazing. I have met her and she is as caring in person as she in the book. This woman has dedicated her life to making a difference and it shows. Buy the book it will be the best thing you ever did!

This book is the perfect balance of inclusive philosophy and practical classroom how-tos. It rejuvinates the reader, reminding them of the need and possibility of teaching effectively, caringly and inclusively. Teachers and others will come away from this book with a wealth of useful tools, new ideas and practical ways to create caring classrooms where all teachers and students belong and progress together. This book leaves you feeling you truely can "Change the world" and gives you the tools and motivation you need to do it!

This is simply the best all round book on building community in schools available. The author wonderfully integrates practical strategies on the education of very diverse learners together -- in terms of ability, race, culture, language. It is a book filled with gentleness and grace yet solidly based on research and practical information. This book should be read and daily used by every elementary teacher!

one more of those books we read, enjoy and forget what the heck the message was upon reading the last page.

Save your money and buy something else.

This is the "best" book I've read! With "change" the norm, you must know how to lead the change and we don't lead dollars or materials--it is people--as Tom Peters puts it--"people are our only asset". The author does an outstanding job of walking you through how to make change a reality--dealing head on--with people. I remember the authors recipe with the letters "PEP". Changes force an individual into a "protection" mode (which is natural), but you and I must understand that the protection wall is nothing buy "energy" (but it is critical to understand the energy is not positive nor negative--just energy). Next is "paradox"--you and I must continously engage in dialogue to help people understand why the change is necessary--thus continuously engaging the protective energy. The paradox is the more you engage the protective energy the more it becomes "positive"--leading to the individuals support of change. I have used this recipe and it works--people do not wake up in the morning--planning on how to oppose the future--they just want to understand. I read two books a week, and I've shared the contents of this book with many. THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ!

Many books have been written about change and how to do it. This one is different. It explores how to deal with the natural and inevitable resistance to change. Many organizations have already undertaken massive change efforts, wrenching processes which have left people reeling -- and resistent. Rick's book focuses on how to use the power of resistance to build support for change in organizations. It explores the nature of resistance, how to recognize it, and what to do about it. It is full of practical, immediately useful techniques and tips for ensuring successful and enduring change. Must read!

This book could have more appropriately been categorized as a negotiation strategy or conflict management book. Most examples in this book focus on negotiating a settlement between two (and only two) opposing groups when a change is proposed. There is little or no mention made of change management per se. Further, it's theories and suggestions focus very little on questions such as, "how do I get people to accept and support the change that I am proposing," and rather much more on understanding when resistance to your idea is present. Frankly, I know when resistence is present, I'm more interested in what to do with it.

Finally, the book is poorly written, in my opinion. It often wanders from the subject at hand to make obsure references - e.g., Groucho Marx movies and the third century emperor Pyrrhus. These references are distracting, and inappropriate in a book designed for corporate managers who have little time to read as it is.

As one who has recently written a book ("Difficult Converstions"), I'm aware that reader reviews sometimes come off as being written by a well-meaing friend or colleague. So I want to be clear that I've never even heard of Rick Maurer. I got his book off Amazon.com, along with about ten other books on corporate change. Mr. Maurer's book is the one I find the most compelling. More than any of the others, this book tries to adjust our relationship to resistance - to see it as natural, to engage with it, to treat resistors with respect, honesty, and to listen with genuine curiosity, thus turning resistors into legitimate partners in the process of change. It's the only book on change that I recommend to my own organizational clients. Congrats, Rick, on a terrific book, and thanks.

This snorefest of a book is chock full of redieration from every other political based textbook I have ever read. This complete waste of a tree, is a pointless exercise in jargon and double speak. Spare yourself hours of trance-like boredom and buy something else.

The author, a scientist, actually did of OK job of keeping me interested in the book. The thing is... the discussion wasn't technical enough to warrant considering on that level. And perhaps it's just me, but it the author didn't provide any strong opinions or speculation of what may have happened and what may happen... just "layman" (weak) facts about how the tests were performed and what it probably means.

I think it would have been much better if the author would have included an extra couple chapters in the end with just some interesting ideas in a story form of "what happened and what's going to happen."

As it is, if it wanted to be a technical book, it's not technical enough. For entertainment, it's not entertainment enough. In the middle without any strong points in either direction is a bad place to be.

I found this book unreadable.

I don't often say that about a book. I can slog through the Code of Federal Regulations with the best of them. I've edited fiction for publication, and scientific reports. Alley's prose is some of the worst I have ever read. After 41 pages, I gave up. I was nauseated.

Technically, Alley makes some good points. His knowlege is first hand and primary observations. However, his prose is stilted and right out of the 17th Century. I got the impression he tried to make a travel memoir out of his scientific investigations. If he really wanted to make a true memoir, he should have split the scientific from the experiential, either as discrete sections or entire books. The down side to that, he would have be more sophisticated with his writing methods, possibly including other people's observations and dialog in his memoirs and less preachy in his science. No such prose appears in this book. Barf!

This book is a waste of my time and good paper. Shame on Richard Alley, Princeton Press, and most of all his editors! Um, well if had any editors, that is . . .

The Two-Mile Time Machine is a fascinating look into one of the most important scientific endeavors in recent history, the extraction of a two-mile ice core in Greenland that gives us clues to the past earth climate, with some startling revelations on how climate has changed abruptly in the past, and could do so in the near future. Very well-written first-hand account that's easy to read, steering clear of dense technical jargon that has hampered similar books.

If you are interested in learning more about global warming and climate change, this book is valuable background information on some of the science behind why scientists have made the recent global warming predictions that give concern about abrupt climate change, tipping points, and positive feedback cycles. This book, however, steers clear of making any bold predictions. It's a very even, balanced look at the results of the Greenland ice core analysis.

Alley really knows how to write. This book is about the ice core record of past climate, the adventure of collecting the ice cores in Greenland, what drives climate change, and a bit about global warming. He makes analogies to everyday situations that humorously and clearly explain the science. A fun read.

An excellent book in many ways, I'll mark the author down because he didn't answer questions he raised in my mind. For example, on page four he says that the climate in Greenland became fifteen degrees warmer in one decade 11,500 years ago! But he doesn't develop the point. I want to know what happens when the climate suddenly becomes that much warmer. We're worried about the extinction of the polar bear because the climate has gotten 5 degrees warmer over the last century. How did the polar bear survive a 15 degree jump in temperature?

Secondly, the author makes the point that, for the last 10,000 years the world has been in a warm period of little climate change. His chart on page 9 shows that the average temperature on the Greenland icecap Geenland during this period has been about 25 F below zero, whereas the "normal" temperature during the last 100,000 years has been much more variable and usually between 35-75 F below zero (page 119). The fact that we are now -- and have been since before civilization began -- in an "abnormal" climatic period seems to me to call for more speculation as to why and as to what the world was like when Greenland was so cold.

Those criticisms aside, the book is excellent in describing the author's work coring ice in Greenland to discover climatic changes. In the last few chapters he broadens the subject to consider why those changes may have taken place, notably through a lucid examination of the "North Atlantic Conveyor Belt."

Smallchief

This book exemplifies the business of the Harvard Business School. It draws snippets from many case studies (available for purchase separately), it ties into seminars and tailored sessions sold at fancy prices to industry, and it presents one of several competing but overlapping theories of what divides successful and unsuccessful companies. It is often compared with Clayton Christensen's book "The Innovator's Dilemma" (obliquely referenced in the preface, but not appearing in the index or bibliography), and indeed both deal with the question of how established companies deal with technologies (in the loosest sense) that change markets. Of the two, I vastly prefer Christensen's book because he tells coherent stories that reach conclusions. This book introduces situations without enough detail to get a true feel for what is going on. In one extreme case ("... John Torrance at Medtek ...", p. 61), a reference is introduced that has no antecedent. The authors of books in this genre like to name drop to show you how broad and deep is their knowledge; therefore you should regard their version of gospel as more credible than their rivals. (How about a case sometime on business school professors?) There are "figures" and "tables" which I suspect are PowerPoint pastes from their lectures. Some of them are referenced (weakly) in the text -- most of them have no direct connection to the exposition. In short, the book gives the impression of being slapped together in haste. For the most part, it is well edited -- a few punctuation lapses notwithstanding. But it needed more editing for content. The table on page 13 says that the "Winchester" company fell victim to its success in disk drives, but the term "Winchester disk" refers not to a company but the code name of a very succesful product prior to its announcement. (Cf. http://www.....htm among other similar web references.) On page 163 they say that IBM lost key control to Intel and Microsoft by betting on the wrong PC design. The conclusion is true, but has nothing whatever to do with the false premise. Now these are all throwaway lines in the book, but they undermine the credibility of the main argument. As an earlier reviewer here put it, the book is about five chapters too long, again, I suspect, because it was produced in haste in order to sell to HBS program participants and in order to get on to the next piece of work. For those who haven't been exposed to the basic ideas (e.g., culture matters), it may well be invaluable, but it ain't the one, true gospel.

I hardly ever read business books, but this held my interest to the end. I now have a very successful business, and I largely credit the ideas in this book for helping me get through some hard challenges

I read many business books - from Drucker to Peters, etc., but this one is very insightful, practical, and easy to follow! One day I will own my own business and this book will be by my side!

Captivating stories. Could have reduced the length of the book by 5 or so chapters to avoid repeating the same concepts.

Many successful companies continue to live onto their past success stories and forget the drastic changes taking place in the market. This symptom ultimately makes their successes short-lived and their market positioning easily challenged,and overtaken, by other not-so-famous competitors. To evade such perils, this book explains lucidly the idea of discontinuous innovations through which "culture of innovation" can be obtained and finally reach to an ambidextrous organization. Without innovation no organization can ever think of surviving in this cut-throat competitive market. The concepts in the books are easy to understand via appropriate examples and related explanation.

Very good book if you are interested in human resource. Shows lots of good examples and is very easy to read and understand.

Now in a completely updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Organization Change: Theory And Practice" by W. Warner Burke (Edward Lee Thorndike Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also serves as the Chair of the Department of Organization and Leadership) continues to be esteemed and recommended as a graduate school level text for university course work in the disciplines of industrial psychology, business administration, and organizational behavior. An invaluable resource for understanding and analyzing organizations be they corporate, governmental, or academic, this edition of "Organizational Change" is enhanced with a new chapter on 'Transformational Leadership' covering the fundamentals of leadership compared with management, transformational leadership, and the roles/responsibilities of the change leader. Also of note is the illuminating discussion on theories for understanding organization and change; as well as the evolutionary and revolutionary aspects of organization change. Professor Burke analytically discusses the nature of change and how organizational change is initiated by changing behavior, but not (as is commonly supposed) changes in mental sets or attributes. Enhanced with the inclusion of theoretical and illustrative models, as well as a model of meticulous and articulate scholarship, "Organizational Change" should be a part of every academic library reference collection and is especially recommended reading for students of the role of leadership in organizational evolution.

I found this book to be boring and slow at parts, but educational. It was an assigned read for a Human Services class, and I would not have read it on my own if I didn't have to.

So much of the literature on change is often a simplistic cookbook claiming change can be executed in 7 easy steps. Burke provides the reader with the theoretical background and takes one through the multiple considerations when executing organizational change. I applaud Dr Burke for revealing the complexity of change and providing insights into the practice of change management.This is a primer for all who are engaged especially in large scale transformational change as it clearly provides one the background to help one educate others on why the change agent does what she does.

I had to buy this book and use it for a class. I find the book to be filled with a wide range of simple common sense theories. It is not a book I would recommend to anyone if they are looking for clear and valuable techniques to utilize there has to be something better then this.